Kenyan MPs to consider poll court

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Kenya's parliament is reconvening shortly, two months before it was due to end its recess to pass legislation setting up a poll violence tribunal.

The court will seek to try the ringleaders of the unrest that broke out after the December 2007 elections.

This was the recommendation of a commission of inquiry into the clashes.

It stipulated that if hearings did not begin by March, a sealed list of suspects would be handed over to the International Criminal Court.

The BBC's Caroline Karobia in the capital, Nairobi, says the names are said to include prominent politicians and businessmen.

Some 1,500 people died in the post-election clashes and another 300,000 people fled their homes.

President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga signed a power-sharing deal last February to bring an end to the violence.

The two leaders - rivals in the elections - agreed to set up the tribunal in mid-December, ahead of the Christmas break.

The tribunal was the key recommendation of the commission chaired by Justice Phillip Waki.

Food crisis

Our correspondent says the MPs have 10 days to ensure the necessary bills are passed in order for the tribunal to be formed.

Another issue that will have to be addressed by parliamentarians is the food crisis, she says.

Some 10 million Kenyans need food aid because of shortages and the government has appealed for emergency funds to deal with the matter.

Parliament will therefore be expected to come up with a rescue plan, our reporter says.

Kenyans will also be waiting for answers from the parliamentary committee in charge of finance.

It will be questioning senior government officials about various corruption allegations, including the accusation that the country's maize reserves were sold to unknown cartels.