I wish no one ICC pain, says Ali

I would not wish anybody the anguish of facing charges at the International Criminal Court. That was the message from former Police Commissioner Hussein Ali on Wednesday.

Speaking two days after the ICC judges declined to put him on trial over the post-election, Maj-Gen Ali said he was elated to be cleared. (READ: Four to face trial)

“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,” he said.

A visibly elated Maj-Gen Ali shared jokes with journalists, at one time asking them not to worry about his “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 said at the start of the press conference flanked by lawyers Evans Monari, Christina Nduba and Gershom Otachi.

Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey, who was also discharged by the court, was escorted by four ministers and more than 20 MPs to address the media on Tuesday. (READ: "I feel vindicated," Kosgey)

Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura, Eldoret North MP William Ruto and radio journalist Joshua arap Sang had the charges against them confirmed.

Maj-Gen Ali, who is currently the Postmaster-General, said he had no regrets over his role as head of the police during the post-election violence.

“As a civil servant, I have no regrets over the work I have done for Kenyans in any of the capacities I have worked. I am proud to have served Kenyans as the Commissioner of Police and before that…I cannot have any regrets for the work I have done. Not at all.”

Like Mr Kosgey, Maj-Gen Ali has kept silent on the case, only speaking to the media once since he was named by Mr Luis Moreno-Ocampo in December 2010 among the six people suspected of playing the greatest role in the violence.

Mr Moreno-Ocampo has stated that while he will not appeal the judges’ ruling on the initial charges, he would be investigating the killings that occurred in Kisumu and Kibera. (READ: ICC still probing Kosgey, Ali cases)

It means that Maj-Gen Ali could possibly face another round of confirmation hearings if the ICC prosecutor digs up any information implicating the police and their overall commander at the time in the killings. He said he would leave the case to the lawyers.