Accept ruling, ICC tells Kenya

Kenyans should be ready to accept any verdict that pre-trial judges reach against the Ocampo Six, the chief prosecutor’s office at the International Criminal Court has said.

Mr Phakiso Mochochoko, the director of jurisdiction, complementarity and cooperation division at the ICC said in Nairobi on Tuesday that the pre-trial judges’ decision should not be misunderstood to be a “guilty” or “not guilty” ruling as it was not a trial.

“The cases were not against the government or any ethnic community. Kenyans must understand that the confirmation hearings were fair and accept the verdict,” he said.

Mr Mochochoko, who is in Kenya to meet NGOs, said the office of the prosecutor was already working with civil society to educate the public on the need to accept the judges’ verdict.

He called on the government and to ensure that no one uses the outcome of the hearings to foment ethnic division or conflict.

The prosecutor’s office also restated its warning to those who would want harm potential witnesses. (READ: Hague judges’ message to all Kenyans)

Mr Mochochoko said the ICC prosecutor’s office would accept the judges’ decision and urged the defence and their supporters to also do the same.

In September, the ICC held confirmation hearings for the Ocampo Six, a process which gave the prosecutor an opportunity to support the charges levelled against the six suspects of post-election violence. The defence was also given a chance to disprove the claims.

The suspects are Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, Tinderet legislator Henry Kosgey, former police chief Mohamed Hussein Ali, Kass presenter Joshua Sang and Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura.