Ocampo team to visit Kenya

Written By:Hallygan Agade,    Posted: Sun, May 29, 2011

International Criminal Court -ICC- chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo is accusing the Kenyan government of frustrating efforts to get justice to the victims of post election violence.

A team from Ocampo's office will be in the country on Monday to meet the government to assess the witness protection program and get the government position on the prosecution of the six suspects.

In a statement from the Office of the Prosecutor Sunday, the team will also asses the witness protection program put in place by the government and is expected to meet key government officials.

"We will asses not just the specific protection program, but will also want to understand the current position of the Government in relation with the Post Electoral Violence. On 5 November 2009, President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga stated their commitment to cooperate with the Court. We received strong cooperation, but since we announced the names of the 6 suspects we have seen a shift in position: high ranking members of the government are misrepresenting ICC efforts to do justice for the victims as an attack against Kenyan sovereignty."

The visit comes amid accusation by Ocampo that high ranking government officials were using legal and political means to scuttle justice for victims on grounds that Kenya sovereignty was under attack.

"They are pursuing regional and political campaigns to stop the case. Not only is this sending the wrong signal, but it is also promoting a growing climate of fear that is intimidating potential witnesses and ultimately undermining national and international investigations." The statement added.

He said with the general election approaching fast, all energies must be directed towards attaining justice for the victims.

"Our Office is doing what we promised to do: Justice for the victims. It was in the point 4 of the Agenda. Everyone agreed on the need to clarify the problem before the next election.

"My question to the Kenyan government is this: does the government of Kenya want justice for the victims? We need an unequivocal answer, an answer that Kenyans and the world could understand. Is the government of Kenya protecting witnesses or protecting the suspects from investigation? That is the question."

But in a rejoinder, Government spokesman Dr. Alfred Mutua dismissed Ocampo's claims as unsubstantiated urging him to go to court and refrain from speculations.

Ocampo lost attempts to withhold evidence from the six suspects and will be meeting them in September for confirmation of charges.

Deputy Prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta,Post master general Hussein Ali,Head of Civil service Francis Muthaura,Eldoret North Constituency Legislator William Ruto,Former industrialization minister Henry Kosgey and Kass Fm presenter Joshua Arap Sang'  are accused by ICC for bearing the greatest responsibility over the post election violence.