Post-election violence victims' lawyer calls for fresh investigations

ICC Chief of office registry Jelena Vukasinovic (left)and Common legal representative for victims Wilfred Nderitu during a press conference at Nairobi on 5/3/16. (PHOTO: BEVERLYNE MUSILI/ STANDARD)

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has been told to launch fresh investigations into the 2007/08 post-election violence.

The victims' lawyer Wilfred Nderitu said the DPP should ensure those who committed atrocities are prosecuted.

Mr Nderitu said despite the verdict by the ICC to drop charges against Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang, the plight of the victims should be considered and they be compensated.

He regretted that despite the DPP saying he had evidence to prosecute the perpetrators of the violence, a number of suspects were free.

"The Government must ensure investigations are carried out and perpetrators are charged for their involvement in the violence," said Nderitu.

He said though the victims had anticipated a favourable ruling, they were disappointed with the ruling of the ICC judges.

A lot of evidence, he claimed, had not been taken into consideration in arriving at the verdict of dropping the charges against the two.

He called on the Government to set up the Sh10 billion fund that was promised by President Uhuru Kenyatta during his State of the Nation address last year towards the compensation of the victims.

"The Government should make good its pledge of assisting the victims. It is an idea whose time has come. The plight of victims should not be forgotten," said Nderitu.

The lawyer said the victims were unlikely going to appeal the ruling.

Nderitu was appointed by the ICC as the victims' common legal representative in the case against Ruto and Sang. He worked with Irish lawyer Fergal Gaynor.