Ocampo confident on Kenya case

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 7 – The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said on Saturday that he has a strong case against the masterminds behind last years post election violence.

He said he would rely on the Justice Phillip Waki report and other investigations conducted by other agencies to convince the judges at ICC to approve that he commences investigations into the Kenya case.

“I think I have a strong case because the Waki commission is a very good report, it’s full of information and there are other reports; the UN report, different other human rights groups reports, I think I have a very strong case,” he said.

President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Thursday declined to refer the Kenyan case to the ICC prompting Mr Ocampo to indicate he would seek for approval from the ICC pre-trial Chamber to commence investigations next month.

The ICC Chief Prosecutor told a media conference in Nairobi on Saturday that it was now up to the judges at The Hague to decide if he would proceed with investigations.

“I believe we have a very strong case but its true judges could say no,” he said.

Mr Ocampo also denied snubbing victims of the violence saying he would arrange a meeting at an appropriate time.

“I would like to go and meet the victims where they suffered, I plan to do this as soon the judges open investigations,” he said.

Mr Ocampo had flown into the country early Thursday morning specifically to secure a formal referral from the government so that the ICC can officially initiate investigations and pursue prosecution for key planners of the post-election violence.

The ICC Chief Prosecutor left Kenya immediately after the press briefing for South Africa.

Capital FM