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Kenyans Are Anxious as ICC Investigators Arrive, Says Rights Activist

   The  Vice  Chairman  of  the  National Commission on Human Rights says
   expectations  of Kenyans are âdangerouslyâ high ahead of the scheduled
   arrival  of  the International Criminal Courtâs (ICC) investigators in
   Kenyaâs capital, Nairobi Thursday.

   Peter Clottey 07 April 2010
   Kenyan  President  Mwai  Kibaki  (C)  and  Kenyan  PM Raila Odinga (R)
   greeting  the  Chief  Prosecutor for the International Criminal Court,
   Luis Moreno-Ocampo (L), ahead of their meeting in Nairobi, 05 Nov 2009
   (Kenyan Presidential press service office)

Photo: AFP

   Kenyan  President  Mwai  Kibaki  (C)  and  Kenyan  PM Raila Odinga (R)
   greeting  the  Chief  Prosecutor for the International Criminal Court,
   Luis Moreno-Ocampo (L), ahead of their meeting in Nairobi, 05 Nov 2009
   (Kenyan Presidential press service office)

   The  Vice  Chairman  of  the  National Commission on Human Rights says
   expectations  of Kenyans are âdangerouslyâ high ahead of the scheduled
   arrival  of  the International Criminal Courtâs (ICC) investigators in
   Kenyaâs capital, Nairobi Thursday.

   Hassan  Omar  said the investigators will be laying the foundation for
   inquiry into Kenyaâs 2007 post-election violence.

   âI  do believe that it is an initial meeting that is an interaction to
   simply  get  firsthand  what is the terrain in Kenya⦠with respect to
   the  investigation.  They  will be able to identify critical access if
   they  want  to  relate  with or interact with during the course of the
   investigation.  Because it is not possible that they have support from
   government or the cooperation will be absolute,â he said.

   Kenya media reported that the ICC investigations could be broadened to
   include  the  recent  extra-judicial  killings  of members of a banned
   Mungiki  sect  that  was  accused  of  beheading  innocent  Kenyans in
   Nairobi, Central and Rift Valley Provinces.

   Judges  of  the  International  Criminal  Court  recently approved the
   courtâs  chief  prosecutor  Luis  Moreno-Ocampoâs  request  to open an
   investigation into Kenyaâs post election violence.

   The  chief  prosecutor  also  announced  that  he will investigate any
   violations  of  human  rights  that  occurred between June 1, 2005 and
   November 2009.

   In June 2005, Kenya signed the Rome Statute that created the ICC which
   paves  the  way for The Hague based court to tackle any crimes against
   humanity in the country.

   Analysts  say  Kenyaâs  National  Commission  on Human Rights played a
   pivotal   role   by   presenting   documentary  evidence  and  alleged
   masterminds   of   the   2007  post-election  violence  to  the  chief
   prosecutor.

   Vice  Chairman Omar said his organization will be working closely with
   the ICC investigators.

   âIt  will  be  as  close  as  the ICC wants. The commission is open to
   working  with  the  ICC  and to cooperate with them and the commission
   believes  that  this is a positive step to combat impunity. But by and
   large  it  is  an  independent  process  and  they will have their own
   latitudes  and  verify  the  information  independently or to seek new
   sources of information,â Omar said.

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