| Luis Moreno Ocampo, prosecutor of the ICC, speaks | | | | prosecute those most responsible for the most |
| during a press conference at Safari Park Hotel in | | | | heinous acts committed during the 2008 chaos. He |
| Nairobi, Kenya, 7 Nov 2009 | | | | expects to eventually seek charges against two or |
| The International Criminal Court's (ICC) chief | | | | three senior Kenyan individuals. |
| prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, ended a crucial visit | | | | The flawed 2007 presidential election sparked weeks |
| to Kenya Saturday detailing his plan to speedily | | | | of deadly turmoil concentrated largely along ethic |
| investigate and then prosecute the top suspects of | | | | lines. Most of the mob violence took place in urban |
| the nation's post-election violence. The prosecutor | | | | slums and in Kenya's Rift Valley region. |
| wants to name those to be charged before the | | | | A couple influential politicians who are likely to hold |
| campaign season begins for the 2012 elections. | | | | presidential ambitions in the upcoming poll are among |
| Ocampo announced on Thursday that he was | | | | those most speculated to be Ocampo targets. Many |
| invoking his prosecutorial powers to ask the Court to | | | | fear that ICC indictments could cause renewed |
| authorize investigations into crimes committed during | | | | outbreaks of violence from supporters of the |
| the violence following the disputed December 2007 | | | | charged individuals. |
| presidential election. The International Criminal Court | | | | While the pre-trial judges must approve Ocampo's |
| announced on Friday that the Kenya case had been | | | | request before he can begin formal investigations, |
| assigned a pre-trial chamber at the prosecutor's | | | | the prosecutor expressed confidence that he will |
| request. | | | | receive the authorization he is seeking. |
| The statement from Ocampo came after Kenya's | | | | "I think I have a strong case because the Waki |
| president and prime minister informed the prosecutor | | | | Commission is a very good report full of information, |
| during a face-to-face meeting that they would not | | | | and there are other reports," he added. "The U.N. |
| refer the case themselves to the ICC. | | | | produced reports, different human rights groups |
| Kenya is a signatory to the Court's governing statute | | | | produced reports. I believe that we have a strong |
| and is legally obliged to cooperate with the Court's | | | | case." |
| proceedings. The two Kenyan leaders announced | | | | The Waki Commission, which was headed by a |
| they would fulfill their legal requirements under | | | | Kenyan judge Philip Waki, but whose two other |
| international law. | | | | members were foreigners, was set-up by the |
| Ocampo stated that he will try to move the process | | | | Kenyan government to look into the post-election |
| quickly due to the nation's looming next elections. | | | | violence. |
| "Everyone is worried about the next election in | | | | The findings of the report were kept under seal and |
| Kenya in 2012," he said. "That's why I understand the | | | | handed over to former U.N. chief Kofi Annan, who in |
| importance of speed, and I am working to be sure | | | | July shocked the Kenyan political establishment by |
| that during 2010 - if the judges authorize | | | | handing over the collected evidence to the ICC |
| investigations - we will be able to complete | | | | prosecutor. |
| investigations and to define who are the suspects, | | | | Ocampo plans to charge the Kenyan suspects with |
| who are the accused, that have to have justice in | | | | committing crimes against humanity. He says if the |
| Kenya. And that will clean the situation [so] that you | | | | investigation is approved he will return to Kenya to |
| can have peaceful election [seasons] in 2011 and | | | | meet personally with the violence victims and to view |
| 2012." | | | | the sites where the worst crimes took place. |
| The prosecutor said that his intention was to | | | | |