NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 9 – Former UN chief Kofi Annan has now sent the envelope containing the list of post poll violence perpetrators to prosecutor at the International Criminal Court at The Hague.
Capital News has learnt that Annan dispatched the secret list to Luis Moreno Ocampo following his meetings with Kenyan officials in Geneva recently.
He said his action follows talks he held with government officials led by Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo, Lands Minister James Orengo and Attorney General Amos Wako last week.
Mr Annan says in a letter dated July 9 to Prime Minister Raila Odinga: “I wish to inform you that the Panel of Eminent African Personalities has handed over to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, the sealed envelope and supporting materials entrusted to me by the Waki Commission on 17th October 2008.”
The chief mediator further avers: “I have written in similar terms to President Kibaki.”
Mr Annan recalled the meeting he held with the Kenya Government delegation last week: “We discussed the status of the implementation of the National Accord and progress on Agenda Item Four reforms including modalities of the establishment of a Special Tribunal, as recommended by the Commission of Inquiry into the post election violence in Kenya.”
The envelop has been handed over to Mr Ocampo together with supporting materials that were given to Mr Annan by Justice Philip Waki last October.
When Mr Kilonzo, Mr Orengo and the AG left the country a week ago, it had been expected that they would plead with Mr Annan to suspend sending the names to The Hague.
The three later met Mr Ocampo in the Netherlands.
The government made a bid to introduce a Bill to establish a local Tribunal but it was defeated by backbenchers.
The backbenchers have recently made it clear that they will shoot any similar Bill taken to the House, insisting that the perpetrators of the violence should face trial at The Hague.
It had been feared that a local Tribunal would be susceptible to manipulation whereas The Hague option provides a real opportunity to end the culture of impunity.
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