Should this Soap Opera go to Full Trial?

If it goes, just as many haters of evening soaps, mostly men, would be the happiest lot in this world. TV, the four-cornered metallic receiver of images, would be a top thing in their lives, once again. Soap addicts aka women would, of course, realise that there are more important things in their sections of living-those things like cooking, bathing, getting abreast through newspapers to avoid looking dumb the following day in office by talking of some inanimate Alejandros when serious Kenyans are into the saving of the fallen shilling or planting a tree in remembrance of the fallen heroine, Prof Wangari Maathai.  

Anyhow, other than introducing those idle addicts to real life by closing out any chance to air those hyped Mexicans, there’s a possibility the real truth about who was truly at the core of the post-election violence would come out. At the full trial, there’ll be adequate time to delve into every angle of the cases. Every soul enormously mentioned would get a chance to present themselves for frying or wash clean their muddied initials. Such prominent Kenyans like Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Environment minister John Michuki, reformed former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga, Roads minister Franklin Bett or even George Saitoti, the Internal Security minister.

These individuals have been mentioned there and again concerning the alleged planning of the 2007 violence. If the cases stop at the confirmation hearings when and where would the persons get a chance to be heard? Take for instance Raila. The PM has been accused left, right and centre by both Uhuru and Ruto’s contingents of knowing a thing or two about the violence. His accusation emanates from the mass action calls he made in the heat of the contested presidential results. Also Maina Njenga. The outlawed group he once commandeered is at the centre of the said retaliatory attacks in Nakuru and Naivasha. He was the leader then and for justice sake this guy probably knows 3s or 4s about the allegation. If the fast-woven cases by Luis Moreno-Ocampo collapsed at the Pre-Trial Chamber II, where else would Raila and Njenga cleanse their soiled names? Cleanse or soil themselves further. Whichever. But honestly the mentioned ought to get a chance to say one or two whether during the full trial or somewhere else.

Another thing is the ability of the ICC’s lead prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo to build a strong case. The on-going cases have painted a dissatisfying, fearful, incoherent constructor of criminal accusations about the feared Argentine. No doubt about that. In fact his cross-examination of Uhuru Kenyatta cemented the latest descriptions about him. He never came out as tactful like his sub-ordinates. Now many have cast aspersions about his abilities can he too be subjected to a full trial so that his performance get a wholesome review?

Such trivialities as Kenyans knowing the extent of the competence of their lead counsels, assessing their performance in global stages or getting a chance to organise fundraisers to buttress their bank accounts or even some journalists getting a golden chance to fly to the Dutch world might play a minimal role in getting this soap opera go ahead or halting it.

Moral Lesson:  which way Ms Ekaterina Trendafilova?