Ali's big relief at ICC's ruling

Former Police Commissioner Major-General Hussein Ali was on Tuesday candid enough to admit that facing charges at the International Criminal Court is not something he would wish on anybody.

Speaking to journalists at a press conference on Tuesday, Gen Ali said he was elated the charges levelled against him by Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo had not been confirmed.

“It is not a matter that I would wish on anybody else on the basis that it is not something you’d want to go through. It is all water under the bridge now and I think of importance to Kenyans now is to move forward and let bygones be bygones,” said Gen Ali.

“I’m gratified and welcome the decision by the Pre-Trial Chamber to decline to confirm all the charges and allegations that were levelled against me on the basis of the facts and evidence that were adduced by ourselves and by counsel. I think it was a just decision and the correct decision,” he added.

He was accompanied at the press conference by his lead counsel Evans Monari and lawyers Christina Nduba and Gershom Otachi and appeared to poke fun at his appearance with such a small entourage.

“Not being a politician, I am of course not accompanied by a retinue of politicians and senior people in Government. I am a civil servant myself,” he joked at the start of the press conference.

Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey, who was also freed of the charges with Gen Ali, was accompanied at a similar press conference by at least 20 MPs and the former and current mayors of Nairobi. 

At Serena Hotel, Gen Ali, maintained his stand to the Commission of Inquiry into the Post-election Violence that he has no regrets over his role as head of the police during the period in 2007 and early 2008.