Friday, March 13, 2015

ICC judges end crimes against humanity case against Uhuru Kenyatta

President Uhuru Kenyatta is finally a free man after the International criminal Court terminated crimes against humanity charges against him.
President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing the nation at State House in Nairobi on May 16, 2014. FILE PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION
“Noting the Prosecution’s withdrawal of charges against Mr Kenyatta, the Chamber decided to terminate the proceedings in this case and to vacate the summons to appear against him,” Judges Kuniko Ozaki, Robert Fremr and Geoffrey Henderson ruled on Friday.
But they said the court would still punish those who may have interfered with or influenced witnesses.
President Kenyatta has always maintained his innocence and lodged a major legal battle within the court to prove his innocence.
DENIED CHARGES
The case was terminated days after ICC judges allowed Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to appeal the decision of the trial chamber, which had stopped her attempts to refer the government to the Assembly of State parties for non-compliance. 
If she is successful, the government may in future be compelled to provide information requested by the court. 
With the latest move, the trial of Deputy President William Ruto and broadcaster Joshua arap Sang is the only Kenyan case remaining in The Hague-based court.
Both have denied charges of murder, forcible evictions and other crimes against humanity and their case is proceeding before a separate chamber.
Last December, the judges had directed Ms Bensouda to either proceed with the case against Mr Kenyatta or withdraw the charges, with a threat to terminate it if she did not act.
FROM SIX TO TWO
The President is presently on an official visit to Japan, where he has discussed how to fight international terrorism, support for Kenya’s maritime projects, infrastructure and energy, especially geothermal power generation.
Six people had been indicted by the court for the crimes committed during the 2007/08 post-election violence that claimed 1,133 lives and displaced over 650,000 people.
The other three were former Police Commissioner Mohammed Hussein Ali, former Industrialisation Minister Henry Kosgey and former Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura.
They were all let off the hook due to lack of evidence.
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