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BY WALTER MENYA | The Star | October 27, 2012
International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda yesterday threatened sanctions against the government if it fails to cooperate. Bensouda said her office expects to receive all the information she needs by December, failure to which she will ask the court to impose sanctions on Kenya.
In both meetings with President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga as well as with the Cabinet sub-committee, I stressed that time is of the essence given that our final list of evidence is due on January 9, 2013. The submission of this evidence is essential for giving the defence a fair trial, Bensouda said.
I expressed my strong desire to receive all the requested information by the end of November to en- able me to comply with my obligations to the defence. I was assured by the committee that they will take appropriate steps to ensure that I am provided with the information without delays.
In addition, Bensouda said police and civil servants who had hesitated in giving evidence will be interviewed as she seeks to build a water-tight case against the 2007-08 post-election violence suspects Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto, Francis Muthaura and Joshua Sang.
Bensouda has since she arrived on Monday held talks with President Kibaki and PM Raila Odinga on Tuesday, the cabinet sub-committee that deals with ICC matters, the Chief Justice, Director of Public Prosecution, Director of Witness Protection and Commissioner of Police.
Other top government officials she met were the NSIS director general Michael Gichangi, members of the diplomatic community stationed in the country and civil society groups.
Yesterday she visited an IDP camp in Nakuru. Speaking after her visit, Bensouda said she had conveyed her offices concerns to President Kibaki and PM Raila regarding delays in the governments response to a number of requests by the Office of the Prosecutor.
They assured me of their willingness to ensure timely and effective execution of the pending requests. They instructed the Attorney-General and the Cabinet Sub-Committee to facilitate expeditious responses to my Offices requests, she said.
The prosecutor wants the government to provide her office with the financial and bank statements of the suspects, their medical records and some recordings from from the Communication Commission of Kenya.
Bensouda will today travel to Eldoret to visit the Kiambaa church, where 17 people were burnt to death in the 2007-08 post-election violence. They were among scores who had sought refuge at the church to escape the violence.
International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda yesterday threatened sanctions against the government if it fails to cooperate. Bensouda said her office expects to receive all the information she needs by December, failure to which she will ask the court to impose sanctions on Kenya.
In both meetings with President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga as well as with the Cabinet sub-committee, I stressed that time is of the essence given that our final list of evidence is due on January 9, 2013. The submission of this evidence is essential for giving the defence a fair trial, Bensouda said.
I expressed my strong desire to receive all the requested information by the end of November to en- able me to comply with my obligations to the defence. I was assured by the committee that they will take appropriate steps to ensure that I am provided with the information without delays.
In addition, Bensouda said police and civil servants who had hesitated in giving evidence will be interviewed as she seeks to build a water-tight case against the 2007-08 post-election violence suspects Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto, Francis Muthaura and Joshua Sang.
Bensouda has since she arrived on Monday held talks with President Kibaki and PM Raila Odinga on Tuesday, the cabinet sub-committee that deals with ICC matters, the Chief Justice, Director of Public Prosecution, Director of Witness Protection and Commissioner of Police.
Other top government officials she met were the NSIS director general Michael Gichangi, members of the diplomatic community stationed in the country and civil society groups.
Yesterday she visited an IDP camp in Nakuru. Speaking after her visit, Bensouda said she had conveyed her offices concerns to President Kibaki and PM Raila regarding delays in the governments response to a number of requests by the Office of the Prosecutor.
They assured me of their willingness to ensure timely and effective execution of the pending requests. They instructed the Attorney-General and the Cabinet Sub-Committee to facilitate expeditious responses to my Offices requests, she said.
The prosecutor wants the government to provide her office with the financial and bank statements of the suspects, their medical records and some recordings from from the Communication Commission of Kenya.
Bensouda will today travel to Eldoret to visit the Kiambaa church, where 17 people were burnt to death in the 2007-08 post-election violence. They were among scores who had sought refuge at the church to escape the violence.