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Kenya Post-Election Violence Indictments Hailed as Important Step

   Peter Clottey 14 December 2010
   Former  UN  Secretary  General  Kofi Annan, left, talks with ICC Chief
   Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, right, during the opening of the Review
   Conference  of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in
   Kampala, Uganda, May 31, 2010 (file photo)

Photo: AP

   Former  UN  Secretary  General  Kofi Annan, left, talks with ICC Chief
   Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, right, during the opening of the Review
   Conference  of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in
   Kampala, Uganda, May 31, 2010 (file photo)

   A  member  of  Kenyaâs National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has
   described   as   an   important  step  to  end  âgross  impunityâ  the
   International Criminal Courtâs (ICC) decision to name six key suspects
   in Kenya's 2008 post-election violence Wednesday.

   Hassan Omar, among other commission members, are credited with playing
   a   pivotal   role   by  compiling  evidence,  as  well  as  providing
   eye-witnesses, to help with the Hague-based courtâs investigation into
   Kenyaâs post-election violence.

   âKenyans  have  been  waiting  for this day for a long time. Itâs been
   something  that  Kenyans have yearned for, (and) itâs been part of the
   pressure for the impunity to be fought and won,â said Omar.

   âItâs  not  the  end  of  impunity  itself,  but itâs a milestone. So,
   Kenyans  are  quite  excited today to know what the outcome of the ICC
   investigation has been, and to, at least, have a fair idea in terms of
   who  were  the  masterminds of the violence, and being, hopefully, the
   first step in dealing with impunity in this country, in its totality.â

   Omar  said  Kenyans are excited, in his words, about the need to bring
   to  justice  the  alleged masterminds and perpetrators of the violence
   that killed hundreds and caused widespread destruction.

   ICC   chief  prosecutor  Luis  Moreno-Ocampo  said  the  suspects  are
   considered  âmost  responsibleâ for the unrest that killed about 1,300
   people.
   Ocampo warned the suspects to surrender voluntarily and cooperate with
   the  court. He said he has asked judges to impose restrictions on the
   suspects,  such  as not contacting or influencing victims or witnesses
   of crimes.

   Meanwhile,  a  recent poll conducted by Synovate shows over 85 percent
   of  Kenyans  support  the  ICC prosecutions of suspects, who allegedly
   orchestrated the 2008-post election violence.

   Synovate  also  said  in  a  statement  that âthe results suggest that
   Kenyans  overwhelmingly  support  the  process, as they expect it will
   significantly reduce the possibilities of repeat violence in 2012.â

   But, Omar said the poll reflects poorly on Kenyaâs judiciary.

   âThat  shows  you  how  much  faith Kenyans have in their own criminal
   justice  system.  Itâs  a  big  indictment  to  the countryâs judicial
   process,  (and) to the countryâs political leadership. And, therefore,
   for us to have to wait for the ICCâs intervention itself tells us that
   our  country  has  not  been  serious  with fulfilling its obligations
   towards  ensuring that those who perpetrate violations of human rights
   are taken to account.â

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