NETHERLANDS: Several Kenyan government ministers and former police chief named as suspects in Kenya post election violence of 2008

Record ID: 346116

  • Title: NETHERLANDS: Several Kenyan government ministers and former police chief named as suspects in Kenya post election violence of 2008
  • Date: 16th December 2010
  • Summary: THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS (DECEMBER 15, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC) BUILDING ENTRANCE TO THE ICC SIGN READING "INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT" ICC'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR, LUIS MORENO-OCAMPO, ARRIVING FOR THE NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAMAN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (English), LUIS MORENO-OCAMPO, ICC CHIEF PROSECUTOR, SAYING: "We found that as early December 2008, William Ruto and Henry Kosgey, leaders of the Orange Democratic Party Movement, they began preparing a criminal plan to attack those identified as supporters of the Party of National Unity in particular in the area of Rift Valley. Joshua Sang played a crucial part in this, he is a journalist and he was involved in the planning of this operation." FACES AND NAMES OF THE SIX ACCUSED ON THE SCREEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) LUIS MORENO-OCAMPO, ICC CHIEF PROSECUTOR, SAYING: "As a response to these attacks, members of the government also committed crimes. We identified three individuals, the first one is Francis Muthaura who was a chairman of National Security Advisory Committee and as such he authorised the police to use excessive force against civilians in Kisumu and Kibera. They were shooting and killing more than hundred people that they identified as supporters of the other party, of the ODM party." JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (English), LUIS MORENO-OCAMPO, ICC CHIEF PROSECUTOR, SAYING: "The second tactic they implemented was to make an agreement with a Mungiki and other groups and let them to attack civilians. This was facilitated by Mr. Kenyatta who was the focal point between the Mungiki, who is a group in Kenya and Party of National Unity. So Mr. Kenyatta's role was to facilitate the activity of the Mungiki and Mr. Muthaura's role was to let them to commit the crimes. Mr. Ali was a head of police in Kenya in those days." NEWS CONFERENCE IN SESSION MORENO-OCAMPO LEAVING THE NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 31st December 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Netherlands, Netherlands
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA9CFE5N8SYWZXX7ROJEW8IH00Y
  • Story Text: The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor named several Kenyan government ministers and a former police chief on Wednesday (December 15) as suspects behind the east African country's post-election violence in 2008.
    The widely-awaited announcement of the ICC's cases has the potential to destabilise Kenya's fragile coalition, or unity government, which was formed by President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to bring the post-election violence to an end and restore stability.
    ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said he was requesting summons for suspended education minister William Ruto, finance minister Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, industrialisation minister Henry Kiprono Kosgey, and former police chief Mohammed Hussein Ali for alleged murder, deportation, and persecutions.
    The ICC case is intended to act as a deterrent against violence in future elections, next due in 2012, demonstrating that politicians who instigate mayhem will be punished.
    More than 1,220 people died and more than 350,000 were displaced in Kenya's post-election violence in 2008, severely denting Kenya's reputation for stability in a turbulent region.
    The prosecutor filed two separate cases, with different charges. The other suspects are radio executive Joshua Arap Sang, and Kenya's secretary to the cabinet, Francis Kirimi Muthaura.
    "We found that as early December 2008, William Ruto and Henry Kosgey, leaders of the Orange Democratic Party Movement, they began preparing a criminal plan to attack those identified as supporters of the Party of National Unity in particular in the area of Rift Valley. Joshua Sang played a crucial part in this, he is a journalist and he was involved in the planning of this operation," Moreno-Ocampo said.
    The naming of suspects had heightened tensions in Kenya, where media reports say changes in the cabinet could follow as leaders come under pressure to resign.
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