ICC warns Kenya to avoid crimes against humanity towards election

The International Criminal Court has threatened to prosecute Kenyan officials if any crime is committed in the run-up or after the 2017 general elections.

“I am not praying for bad things to happen, but if ICC crimes are committed, and Kenya does not attempt to try those cases, the court will do its duty and discharge its obligation under the Rome Statute,” ICC chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda said ahead of a meeting with NGOs at the Hague.

The ICC warning comes at a time when there are fears that the political tension in Kenya could deteriorate.

In April, the ICC dropped charges against Kenya’s deputy president William Ruto after main witnesses in the case either withdrew or recanted their testimonies.

Ruto had denied charges of murder and persecution after Kenya’s 2007 post-election violence in which about 1200 people were killed.

News Agencies