Kenya now shifts ICC battle to Hague talks

Foreign Affairs Secretary Amina Mohamed, AG Githu Muigai and DPP Keriako Tobiko are leading teams from their offices to represent Kenya in the ASP that ends on Nov 28/FILE

The delegation includes top officials from the offices of the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Amina Mohamed, Attorney General Githu Muigai and the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko are leading teams from their offices to represent Kenya in the ASP that ends on November 28.

Officials from Deputy President William Ruto’s office could not confirm if he will attend the ASP since his trial resumes at The Hague this week.

International Criminal Court (ICC) Deputy Prosecutor James Stewart told Capital FM News that this year’s ASP is dedicated to the African Union to air issues that have resulted in bad blood between the court and Africa.

The AU has complained that the ICC has been targeting African states and has particularly been opposed to President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto attending their trials.

According to Stewart, the ASP will be one of the ways the ICC will try to reach out to the African continent which forms majority of members with 34 countries having ratified the Rome Statute.

The President of the ASP, Ambassador Tiina Intelmann is expected to address a press conference on Wednesday afternoon at the World Forum Convention Centre where the ASP will take place.

In the Kenyan case, the ICC has been accused of usurping Kenya’s sovereignty by pursuing the case against Kenyatta and Ruto while they are still in office.

The ASP also comes days after the UN Security Council blocked an AU bid for the Kenyan cases to be deferred for a year.

This has angered Kenya which expected the UN Security Council to vote in its favour based on security threats Kenya is facing from terrorists.

The decision too has not augured well with other African countries that were supporting Kenya’s bid for a deferral.

The UN Security Council decision is likely to be a subject during the ASP.

About The Author

JUDIE KABERIA

Judie, an Associate Editor has worked as a journalist in Kenya and Germany. She has a Master’s Degree in New Media, Governance and Democracy, University of Leicester (U.K). She has scooped 10 journalistic awards. She has participated in international conferences in Germany, Switzerland, United States and Netherlands. Judie has written a booklet, ‘Justice and Peace in the Kenyan Eye’. She has a soft spot for human rights, crime, peace and justice stories.

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