The International Criminal Court (ICC) pre-trial judges have just confirmed charges against four of the six Kenyan suspects accused of inciting wars during the 2007 post election violence.
Those scheduled to face trials include, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North Member of parliament (MP) William Ruto, head of civil service Francis Muthaura and journalist Joshua Sang.
Charges against Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey and former police commissioner Hussein Ali were dropped.
Reading a statement containing confirmed charges was Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova.
“ In reaching our decision, we have reviewed all evidence to ascertain the necessary threshold had been reached. It’s our hope that this decision will bring peace to Kenya,” she read.
The judge further emphasized. “As for Mr Kosgey and Mr Ali, I would like to tell them that the prosecutor may present a request to appeal against this ruling.”
On the case against Ruto and Uhuru, the chamber was satisfied that they are criminally responsible for the alleged crimes as indirect perpetrators.
Yet the chamber does not believe that the Kenya Police was involved in the crimes. “It is for this reason why we did not find the evidence against Mr Ali enough to sustain the charges,” said Trendafilova.
The court found Ruto as an indirect perpetrator of the crimes, while Sang was an associate. However the chamber was not satisfied by the evidence against Mr Kosgey.
Indeed, the prosecutor established substantial grounds to believe crimes against humanity were committed. The Chamber also found that the assaults were targeted to specific groups, belonging to Luo, Luhya and Kalenjin tribes.
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