Kenya to Know Post-election Masterminds in Two Weeks

By Nicholas Tago

NAIROBI—Anxiety has gripped the country following revelations by the International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo that  the names of those who perpetrated the 2007/2008 post-election violence will be made public in two weeks.  The no-nonsense prosecutor told a conference in Nairobi that he will present six names to the pre-trial chambers of the ICC on December 17.

“After conducting our own investigations, we have come to the conclusion that crimes against humanity were committed in Kenya during the period under investigation. I will present two cases and in each, three individuals will have to answer to charges of crimes against humanity”, Moreno-Ocampo said.

If the pre-trial chamber judges are satisfied with the prosecutor’s evidence, they will then issue summons to the suspects to appear voluntarily in court at The Hague. Moreno-Ocampo said those who opt to appear voluntarily will remain free during the trial. If proven guilty they will be jailed. But if found innocent, they will be released.

However, fears abound that with trials set to last till late 2012 after the next general elections, a number leaders with presidential ambitions could be locked out of the race. It is for this reason that a section of politicians from Central Kenya and Rift Valley have accused the prosecutor of being hell bent on destroying careers of certain politicians. But former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has dismissed that as cheap propaganda.

“The ICC does not have political interest in Kenya. It has no candidate in 2012. The ICC came after Parliament failed to set up a local tribunal to try post-election violence suspects. Who will then give justice to the victims?” said Annan.

It may be recalled that politicians who had been adversely mentioned in some of the reports on the post-election violence at the time preferred The Hague option, arguing that it would be ages before they got prosecuted. But the reality has now dawned on them that they could soon be pariahs given the speed with which the prosecutor has moved.

At the same time, the ICC prosecutor  has warned that he will request for arrest warrants for suspects that have been threatening witnesses.

“To those who are intimidating witnesses, I hereby put you on notice. Your time is up”, said Moreno-Ocampo.

More than 1000 people were killed and 650,000 other displaced when violence broke out in December 2007 following disputed presidential election results.