ICC confirms receipt of petition to probe Raila, Kalonzo over anti-IEBC chaos

The International Criminal Court has confirmed receiving a petition seeking to have two top Opposition leaders investigated for inflammatory conduct, among other crimes.

Last week, two Kenyans moved to The Hague-based court and formally asked ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to investigate National Super Alliance (NASA) leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka over the ongoing wave of violence in the country.

“The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court acknowledges receipt of your documents/letter.

"This communication has been duly entered in the Communications Register of the Office," the letter signed yesterday by Mark Dillon, head of the Information and Evidence Unit at the ICC, reads.

International Policy Group officials Kenneth Otieno and Martin Nkari, through a Canadian law firm, want the criminal court to probe Raila and Kalonzo over the chaos witnessed in major towns during Opposition-led protests against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Not misconstrued

In the letter, the Office of the ICC Prosecutor explained that confirmation of receipt of the petition should not be misconstrued to mean investigations have been started against the NASA leaders.

“Please note this acknowledgement letter does not mean an investigation has been opened, nor that an investigation will be opened by the Office of the Prosecutor.

"As soon as a decision is reached, we will inform you, in writing, and provide you with reasons for this decision,” reads the letter seen by The Standard.

Watson Jacobs McCreary LLP submitted papers formally received by Ms Patricia Castro, and then to the Prosecutor’s Office last Friday, copies exclusively obtained by this paper.