Photo: Capital FM Nairobi — The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor has raised concerns with the Kenyan government over intimidation of witnesses in the two cases involving four Kenyans at The Hague.
Addressing a news conference in Nairobi on Thursday, Head of the Jurisdiction, Complimentarity and Cooperation Division Phakiso Mochochoko said the court is concerned over continuing intimidations to witnesses.
"The threats continue and maybe there will be even more threats as we get to trails. Those threats must stop. The government of Kenya and the ICC will work together to make sure those people threatening witnesses are brought to book," he asserted.
He said though the prosecution witnesses were out of the country, their families and others perceived to be ICC witnesses were being intimidated.
During his meetings with the Attorney General and the Cabinet sub Committee on ICC matters, together with Associate International Cooperation Adviser Shamiso Mbizvo the official discussed matters of cooperation in which Kenya assured of commitment to support the court.
Mochochoko further said that the court is investigating a 'good number' of individuals intimidating witnesses including those who are allegedly doing it on social media.
He also clarified that the court's focus was on Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto, Francis Muthaura and Joshua arap Sang who are due for trial next April.
On the issue of referring cases from the ICC, Mochochoko said right procedure will have to be followed as he explained that establishing an African Union court was not automatic that cases would be refered.
He said the Kenyan cases will not stop until the judges make a decision, "The cases in Kenya will not go away, and the only end to the cases will come once the judges have made their final decision."
He spoke ahead of a visit by ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda who is expected in the country soon.
It will be her first time in Kenya since she succeeded former Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo.
Fatou has indicated that work will continue as before and her commitment is to ensure victims access justice and also end impunity.
Comments Post a comment
To whom it may concern,
as a concerned citizen of the world and watcher thereof of world events, let it be duly noted that forthwith a continuous message emanates from certain spokesmen from governments throughout the middle east region whereby they have spoken openly of arming specific individuals and as well groups so marked and identified as terrorists by the Syrian government.
Be forewarned that this constitutes a breach of international law which you are bound to uphold in your delegated capacity and a lack to act in accordance with your apparent description as a judicial international law enforcement entity will undermine and bring into question the legitimacy of your organization.
The primary quarters from whence these parties have made statements that are geared towards the arming of terrorists and overthrow of a democratically elected government are to wit: Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
To finalize, let the historical record reflect that you have NOW been officially informed and will be henceforth monitored to determine whether your ICC organization is worthy to perform your continued duties or whether you should be subsequently disavowed as an internationally recognized body.
Aaron Chaney.