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Daily Nation Tuesday Date: 15.10.2013 Page 14 Article size: 213 cm2 ColumnCM: 47.33 AVE: 102240.0 Clinton was hauled to court for an offence before he became president The swipe at former UN sec retarygeneral Kofi Annan by Kenya's Foreign Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed on ac count of his personal views on the ICC was uncalled for. Mr Annan may live in Switzerland, but his understanding of events in Africa cannot be questioned. In her spirited defence of President Kenyatta, Ms Amina Mohamed wondered aloud which sitting Head of State ever appeared in a court of law while in office. Perhaps it will interest the Cabinet Secretary to know that in 1997, William Jefferson Clinton, President of the largest democracy in the world, the United States of America, was taken to court in a civil litigation suit by Paula Corbin Jones. After President Clinton's law yers raised the same issues Kenya raises and sought deferment, a lower court granted it, but on ap peal, it was set aside by the Court of Appeal, which denied the mo tion of immunity, pointing out the constitutional provision that did not grant immunity for actions committed prior to the President's assumption of office. Our Constitution borrows heavily from America's. Does the Kenyan constitution give blanket immunity to a president even for crimes allegedly committed while outside office as some activists and the President's inner cabal wants us to believe? Should that be the case, does it not also apply to the Deputy President? Why was Mr William Ruto encouraged to attend the ICC FILE I NATION Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed addresses a press confer ence. in person? Desperate attempts to stop Presi dent Kenyatta from going to The Hague have gained intensity and the President's own deportment suggests he might decline the ICC invite. It is within his powers to dis regard the court, yet not honouring the ICC summons is a simplistic solution to a complex problem that cannot be wished away. There are those, including the African Union, who selfishly believe bed and might as well lie on it. Kenya is not on trial, neither are Kenyans, as there is a clear dis the President must be insulated wealth. The welfare of an individual without factoring in other consid erations and implications. In ratify ing the Rome Statute, we made our or two should not be given prec tinction between the accused and Mother Kenya that should not be confused for political expediency. I do not know at what point the Pres ident's problems became mine. It should be noted that any re percussions on the country as a consequence of defiance will hurt millions of the poor as the wealthy enjoy the comfort given by their edence over that of millions. ALEXANDER CHAGEMA, Kakamega Ipsos Synovate Kenya Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road Lavington Nairobi Kenya