By Vitalis Kimutai

Three days after surviving a censure motion, Agriculture Minister William Ruto wants former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to hand over the envelope containing names of the perpetrators of post-election violence to the International Court in The Hague.

Urging Annan to expedite the process, Ruto said the two-month window given to Kenya to decide on the setting up of a local tribunal to try suspects was unnecessary.

ÒAnnan should not waste more time but immediately give the envelope so that those implicated can go to The Hague for the trialÓ he said.

The Eldoret North MP said Kenyans want the issue to be dispensed with so that they could embark on other pressing issues such as hunger and constitutional making process.

He tore into the Justice Waki report on the post-election violence saying its contents were a result of witch-hunting and rumours.

ÒEven a fool can see through the lies in the report tabled by Waki as it was inconclusive and based on hearsay,Ó the Minister said.

Ruto, at the same time, attacked Constitutional Affairs minister Martha Karua for allegedly failing to fight corruption in the country.

ÒThe most responsible thing is for the Justice Minister to resign for allowing corruption to thrive in the country,Ó he charged.

He said that Karua has no proof that she has been fighting corruption in the country for the four yeas she has had handled the docket.

Speaking in Sotik town on Saturday during a funds drive hosted by area MP Dr Joyce Laboso, Ruto warned that, ÒMaking populist statements and using corruption as a scapegoat for our failures should not be tolerated. We must gather courage to call a spade a spadeÓ.

Other leaders who accompanied him were Roads minister Franklin Bett, Energy Assistant minister Charles Keter and Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto.

The agriculture minister, who, on Wednesday, survived attempts by Ikolomani MP Dr Bony Khalwale to censure him, criticised church leaders who recently accused President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga for allegedly failing to bring the much-desired change in the country.

ÒThey could have booked an appointment with the two principals to discuss matters affecting society which need to be corrected,Ó he said.