Table evidence on ICC, says activist

A human rights activist has dared anyone with evidence implicating the civil society in the alleged coaching of the International Criminal Court witnesses scheduled to testify against President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy to present it in court.

The former Kenya National Commission on Human Rights chairman Maina Kiai said the allegations are serious and warrant prosecution if found to be true.

“If anyone has evidence let them go to the ICC website and report,” said Mr Kiai during a televised interview on NTV.

Mr Kiai is currently a United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of assembly.

He was responding to allegations on social media that he took part in the coaching of witnesses soon after the 2007 post-election violence when he was the chairman of the State commission. This is after the Hague-based court on Monday dismissed all charges against former Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura.

The ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said the charges could not be sustained after a witness identified as witness four admitted he had been coached and bribed to testify.

It is alleged that the ICC heavily relied on reports from the civil society to institute charges against Kenyans charged over the violence.

Mr Kiai reiterated his stand that Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto should not have been allowed to vie.

“Just because someone is popular does not automatically mean they have integrity,” he said. (OPINION: KIMALEL: Foreign interests funding civil society to compromise Kenya’s sovereignty)