ICC authorises investigation into Kenya chaos
Judges at the International Criminal Court at The Hague have authorized prosecutor Luis-Moreno Ocampo's request to investigate Kenya's post election violence.
Two of the judges approved the investigation while one dissented.
"The information available provides a reasonable basis to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed on Kenyan territory," a statement from ICC notes.
It goes on: "The majority moreover found that all criteria for the exercise of the Court’s jurisdiction were satisfied, to the standard of proof applicable at this stage."
Meanwhile, the Prosecutor will on Thursday, April 1, outline the steps he will take in investigating the crimes committed in Kenya during the post-election violence.
Luis Moreno-Ocampo will be holding a news conference at The Hague at 10am (11 am Kenyan time)
European Union (EU) delegation to Kenya said ICC's decision was an "important step towards ending impunity in Kenya"
In a statement, the EU delegation noted that ICC’s involvement was a result of the "failure by Kenya's State institutions to establish a local special tribunal, and followed the process contained in the Waki Report, adopted by the Kenyan Government and Parliament in 2008/9."
EU also expressed concern over the continued harassment and intimidation of potential witnesses of the post-election violence.
There has been calls for the protection of potential witnesses by Kenyan human rights lobbyists, who cite threats to the their lives.
Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo asked judges last November to approve an investigation into the Kenya violence. The judges requested for additional information February this year.
In his presentation to the Pre-Trial Chambers in March this year, Mr Moreno-Ocampo said Kenyan political leaders organised and financed the attacks against civilians.
More than 1000 people were killed and 650,000 displaced in the post-election mayhem that rocked the country.
