This week the media attention shifted from Libya back to Kenya. On Sunday ICC Prosecutor Ocampo made a statement that members of Kenya's government "are misrepresenting ICC efforts to do justice for the victims as an attack against Kenyan sovereignty" as part of a political campaign. Discussions between the ICC and Kenyan government have begun over the government's apparent shift in position since the suspects were named late last year. The focus of the discussions reportedly is determining whether the government is"protecting witnesses or protecting the suspects from investigation." Kenya's Justice Minister Kilonzo dismissed the ICC's accusations as unfounded saying that Kenya continues to cooperate with the Court. Regardless, representatives of the ICC travelled to Kenya today to further discuss Kenya's committment to the ICC and issues of witness protection. A recent report published by the AU Panel of Eminent African Personalities chaired by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan found that a majority of Kenyans continue to support ICC participation in post-election violence proceedings. In other news the Bemba trial continues at the ICC. Last week a prosecution witness testified that Bemba's soldiers were the only soldiers present in the pillaged towns. However, this week the trial has been temporarily stalled due to the illness of a witness. Finally, the nomination period for electing six new judges and a prosecutor at the ICC is set to begin next month sparking speculation about the identities of the candidates. Photo credit: Capital FM.
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