Trial of Kenyans will deter future atrocities, say lobbyists

By JAMES MBAKA

An international organisation of human rights lobby groups has hailed the Kenyan case at the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying the proceedings will be a lesson that will help avert future atrocities.

In a statement signed by some 30 African human rights organisations, the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) also asked the Dutch government and the ICC to treat Kenyan leaders, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, like any other suspects and not handle them like VIPs.

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has insisted that all suspects will be treated equally regardless of the positions they hold in government. “These are not the trials of a president and a deputy president. These are trials to establish the facts and individual criminal responsibility for serious crimes. Their positions are and should be irrelevant,” read the FIDH statement.

The organisation said any preferential treatment would demonstrate the utmost injustice to victims of the post-election violence, adding such a judicial process would heal the country, prevent future crimes against humanity and heal the wounds with a gift of lasting peace.

“The unsung heroes of these proceedings are the victims and witnesses who, despite a difficult and sometimes threatening environment, have committed themselves to the search for truth and justice,” said FIDH.

FIDH also said Kenyans’ hopes for justice lay squarely on ICC following the country’s failure to moot a credible tribunal to try post-election suspects. “ICC cannot afford to lose the confidence and trust that the victims have placed in it,” the organisation added.