Prosecutor Ocampo Hands ICC Judge 20 Names in Connection With 2007 PEV in Kenya.

Moreno Ocampo - ICC Prosecutor

In response to the request by ICC Judges of 18 February 2010, the Prosecutor clarified today that senior political and business leaders associated with the main political parties, the PNU which was in the government at the time of the violence and the ODM which was the main opposition party at the time, organized, enticed and/or financed attacks against the civilian population on account of their perceived ethnic and/or political affiliation pursuant to or on furtherance of a State and/or organizational policy.

“These senior leaders from both PNU and ODM parties were guided by political objectives to retain or gain power”, said the Prosecutor. “They utilized their personal, government, business and tribal networks to commit the crimes. They implemented their policy with the involvement of a number of State officers and public and private institutions, such as members of the parliament, senior government officers, the police force and youth gangs”.

According to a press statement posted in the ICC  official Website  immediately after the names were handed to the judges,” The Prosecutor provided the ICC Judges with a list of the most serious criminal incidents, and a selected list of 20 names of persons who appear to bear the gravest responsibility for these crimes. Both lists are contained in confidential annexes,” the statement read in part.

“The names were identified in the course of different inquiries into the post-election violence, including those carried out by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and the Commission of Investigation on Post-Election Violence,” it further noted.

At this stage, the names are indicative only” said the Prosecutor. “The allegations concerning the named individuals will have to be measured against the evidence gathered independently by my office. If the Judges authorize the investigation, I will engage those who wish to clarify their role or provide further information

The Prosecutor also reiterated to the Judges that none of the named individuals has yet faced justice in Kenya for the crimes. The Prosecutor requested an expedited decision by the Judges because, in his words, both the victims and those defined as suspects need justice.

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