Ocampo Six get visas to The Hague

By Athman Amran
The Ocampo Six have been given their visas to travel to The Hague next week where the International Criminal Court (ICC) will read them their charges.
The visas, which they collected from the Royal Dutch Embassy in Nairobi yesterday, however, restrict them to only three countries – Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium. They are also restricted to staying for seven days although their visas are valid from April 3 to 25.
But visas of the more than 40 MPs, who will accompany the suspects to The Hague are normal Schengen visas. These allow them to travel freely to all the 17 European Union countries.
Among the six post-election violence suspects who got their visas yesterday are Eldoret North MP Willam Ruto, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey and radio presenter Josiah Sang.
MP Charles Keter picked the visas for Ruto, Uhuru and Kosgey while Sang picked his personally.
Processed speedily
The ‘Ocampo Six’ are expected to depart for The Hague on April 5, while some of the MPs will leave on April 5 and 6.
Sang told reporters he had applied for his visa on Monday and collected his documents yesterday and will depart on April 5 and be back by April 10. "The visa serves the purpose. I had no reason to go to the other countries," Sang said.
The radio presenter’s lawyer Kimutai Bosek, however, took issue with the travel restrictions imposed on his client, which other suspects were also not happy about. "It is not good to insinuate that they would go to any region," Mr Bosek said.
Lawyers for the ‘Ocampo Six’ are expected to leave on Sunday to arrange for accommodation and other needs at The Hague.
Bosek said the ICC has not made accommodation or any other arrangements. "We will raise the issue of legal fees when in court," he said.
The visas were processed speedily amid disagreement between the Government and the Netherlands over the type of visas to be issued to the International Criminal Court suspects.
The Netherlands had insisted on sticking to international law and precedence by treating the six as "high risk personalities" and issuing them with "special passes" instead of normal visas.
The Government had threatened to block the six from travelling to the Netherlands unless they received visas. Keter said he collected 20 visas for the MPs and would collect the rest today.
Among those who will accompany the suspects are Assistant ministers William Cheptumo, Peter Munya, Ferdinand Waititu, Mwangi Kiunjuri, Linah Kilimo, Kazungu Kambi, Kareke Mbiuki, Sylvester Wakoli, Katoo ole Mitito, Asman Kamama, Mohamed Mahamud Ali and Johnstone Muthama.