Lawyers tell off American professors over suit

By Beauttah Omanga

The Law Society of Kenya and lawyer Paul Muite have said the move by two Americans to stop the International Criminal Court (ICC) from investigating the post-election violence will not succeed.

LSK Vice-Chairman James Mwamu and Mr Muite said it would be ridiculous for an international court to stop investigation into any alleged crime.

Mr Mwamu said: "I see that application being dismissed because the ICC Prosecutor merely wants permission to commence investigation into commission of an international crime against humanity. There is no application as yet for prosecution of anybody."

The two lawyers said the post-election violence perpetrators wanted to derail the process at the expense of the victims who want to see justice done and impunity addressed.

Kenyan hand

Muite questioned the logic behind the two Americans’ move, saying he suspected a hidden Kenyan hand.

"On whose interest are they seeking the orders?" posed Muite, who urged local human rights bodies with their international partners to seek leave to be enjoined, as well as the post-election violence victims.

He said the victims and the human rights bodies should urgently instruct reputable lawyers to move to the ICC and file papers demanding to be party to the strange suit.

"That suit is demonic in the first place. How were the two Americans affected by the Kenyan chaos? They must also be pressed by the Kenyan human rights lawyers to reveal on whose behalf they are acting," said Muite.