| The International Criminal Court (ICC) today ruled that four prominent
Kenyans, including the deputy prime minister, are to stand trial for
crimes against humanity and other offences allegedly committed following
general elections in late 2007.
The ICC pre-trial chamber confirmed
charges against Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Finance; William Samoei Ruto, former Minister of Higher
Education, Science and Technology; Francis Kirimi Muthaura, Head of the
Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet; and Joshua arap Sang, Head
of Operations for KASS FM radio station.
With respect to Mr. Ruto and Mr. Sang, who
are charged with crimes against humanity, deportation or forcible
transfer and persecution, the pre-trial judges found that “on the basis
of the evidence presented, that they are responsible for the charges
levied against them,” according to a summary of the pre-trial chamber’s
decision.
“These crimes resulted in the death of hundreds, and the displacement of
thousands of civilians from Turbo town, the greater Eldoret area,
Kapsabet town and Nandi Hills. The Chamber also found that these crimes
were committed as part of an attack directed against particular groups,
namely, Kikuyu, Kamba and Kisii, due to their perceived political
affiliation to the Party of National Unity.”
As regards Mr. Kenyatta and Mr. Muthaura, the court found that the
prosecution had established substantial grounds to believe that the
crimes of murder, deportation or forcible transfer, rape, other inhumane
acts and persecution were committed in an attack on the civilian
residents of Nakuru and Naivasha towns between 24 and 28 January 2008.
“With respect to the criminal responsibility of Mr. Muthaura and Mr.
Kenyatta, the chamber was satisfied that the evidence also established
substantial grounds to believe that they are criminally responsible for
the alleged crimes, as indirect co-perpetrators.”
“As a result of the decisions issued today, Mr. Ruto, Mr. Sang, Mr.
Muthaura and Mr. Kenyatta are committed to trial. They will be tried
before a different chamber for the charges confirmed. To this end, one
or more trial chambers will be established by the Presidency of the
ICC,” the pre-trial chamber stated in its ruling.
The pre-trial chamber declined to confirm charges against two other
suspects – Henry Kiprono Kosgey, former Minister of Industrialization,
and Mohamed Hussein Ali, the Police Commissioner at the time of the
violence, saying that the prosecution had not produced sufficient
evidence to link them to the charges against them.
“It |