The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) today
requested that the tribunal issue summons against six Kenyan citizens
for alleged crimes committed during the violence that erupted
following the country's general elections in December 2007.
"The post election period of 2007-2008 was one of the most violent
periods of the nation's history," the prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo,
<"http://www.icc-cpi.int/NR/exeres/BA2041D8-3F30-4531-8850-431B5B2F4416.htm">said
at a press conference at the ICC headquarters in The Hague today,
adding that there are reasonable grounds to believe crimes against
humanity were committed.
The prosecutor said that more than 1,100 people were killed, 3,500
injured and up to 600,000 forcibly displaced during 30 days of
violence. There were hundreds of rapes, possibly more, and over
100,000 properties were destroyed in six of Kenya's eight provinces.
"These were not just crimes against innocent Kenyans," Mr.
Moreno-Ocampo said. "They were crimes against humanity as a whole. By
breaking the cycle of impunity for massive crimes, victims and their
families can have justice. And Kenyans can pave the way to peaceful
elections in 2012."
Those named by Mr. Moreno-Ocampo are: William Samoei Ruto, the
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology; Henry Kiprono
Kosgey, the Minister of Industrialization; Joshua Arap Sang, the Head
of Operations for KASS FM radio station; Francis Kirimi Muthaura, the
Head of the Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet; Uhuru Muigai
Kenyatta, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; and
Mohamed Hussein Ali, the Police Commissioner at the time of the
violence.
The judges of the ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber II will now review the
evidence. If they determine that there are reasonable grounds to
believe that the six persons named committed the alleged crimes, they
will decide on the most appropriate way to ensure their appearance in
Court. The prosecution has requested "Summonses to Appear."
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