Sack Muthaura and Uhuru, urges Ocampo
The ICC chief prosecutor has called for the sacking of Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Public Service head Francis Muthaura.
In a letter to the Cabinet sub-committee on the International Criminal Court dated July 20, Mr Luis Moreno-Ocampo also called for the sacking of suspended Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey and Postmaster-General Hussein Ali on grounds that they could interfere with continuing investigations into the 2007/08 post-election violence.
“I remain concerned that the continued involvement in public office of Mr Muthaura, Mr Kenyatta, Mr Kosgey and Mr Ali is fostering the perception that these individuals remain influential within the Kenyan Government,” Mr Moreno-Ocampo says in the letter to the sub-committee’s head, Internal Security minister George Saitoti.
“The public perception that certain suspects continue to enjoy the support of the government is creating a climate that is not conducive for impartial investigations and proceedings,” the prosecutor added.
The letter is copied to other members of the committee, including Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo and his Lands counterpart James Orengo, as well as Kenya’s envoy to The Netherlands, Prof Ruthie Chepkoech Rono.
The prosecutor further demanded to be told when the government would ask the four to resign in accordance with the country’s legal procedures.
The ICC accuses the four, alongside suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto and radio presenter Joshua Sang’, of bearing the greatest responsibility for the poll chaos.
It is not the first time Mr Moreno-Ocampo is demanding that Mr Kenyatta and Mr Muthaura quit. (READ: )
In March, he wrote to the government demanding to know whether their positions gave them privileged access to and influence over the State’s security apparatus in a way that could see them interfere with witnesses or with the collection of evidence.
His concern resulted in the resignation of both Mr Kenyatta and Mr Muthaura from key Cabinet and security committees.
