ICC warns over threats to witnesses

By WAHOME THUKU

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is collecting evidence on threats to its witnesses and will prosecute those involved.

With barely nine months to the start of the trial of four Kenyans suspects at the ICC, the prosecution has raised a red flag over alleged intimidation and threats to witnesses.

“We are collecting evidence against these people because the threats continue and they must stop. We know they will intensify as the trials draw closer, but that will not be allowed,” said Phakiso Mochochoko from Office of The Prosecutor (OTP).

The ICC officials said witnesses in the two Kenya cases and their families were being targeted, a situation that could worsen as the trial nears.

The OPT officials, Phakiso Mochochoko and Shamiso Mbizvo held a session with Attorney General Githu Muigai and the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the ICC Thursday to press the Government to act on the threats.

The officials will this morning meet representatives of several civil society groups in Nairobi to discuss their six-month schedule of programmes in preparation for the trials set to start on April 10 and 11.

“The meeting will certainly revisit the question of witness protection, which is now not about Kenya but an international issue,” said Ndung’u Wainaina, the director of International Centre for Policy and Conflict, one of the organisations doing ground work for the ICC.

Fresh allegations

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and former head of Public Service Francis Muthaura are being tried for crimes against humanity in the second Kenya case.  Eldoret North MP William Ruto, and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang face similar charges in the first case.

The charges arise from the December 2007 and January 2008 post-election violence. The Pre-Trial Chamber confirmed the charges in February.

At the same time, the ICC officials confirmed Thursday they were studying fresh allegations related to PEV, made by Miguna Miguna, a former aide to Prime Minister Raila Odinga.