Breaking News: ICC Prosecutor Announces Summons for the Situation in Kenya

Today ICC Prosecutor, Luis Mereno-Ocampo, announced summons for six individuals that his office believes are responsible for the 2007-2008 post-election violence in Kenya. This violence left over 1,100 people dead, 3,500 injured and nearly 600,000 displaced. In addition, there were hundreds of reported rapes and over 100,000 properties were destroyed.

The Prosecutor believes he has found reasonable grounds to prove that the following six individuals committed crimes against humanity during the violence in Kenya.

1. William Samoei Ruto is the current Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology. However, is also currently suspended from the position. The Prosecution believes that he was one of the principal planners and organizers of the violence.

2. Henry Kiprono Kosgey is the current Minister of Industrialization. The Prosecution suspects him of being another one of the principal organizers.

3. Joshua Arap Sang - currently Head of Operations, KASS FM and during the PEV: Radio broadcaster. The Prosecution considers that he was one of the principal planners and organizers of crimes against PNU supporters.

4. Francis Kirimi Muthaura is the Head of the Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet and Chairman of the National Security Advisory Committee. The Prosecution believes that he mobilized the Police and allowed them to use excessive force.

5. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta is the current Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. The Prosecution believes he helped to mobilize criminal organizations to perpetrate violence.

6. Mohamed Hussein Ali is the current Chief Executive of the Postal Corporation of Kenya and during the violence he was Kenyan Police Commissioner. The Prosecution believes that during the violence he authorized the use of excessive force and mobilized police.

These summonses constitute two separate cases. The first includes the first three suspects and the second, the last three.

The Prosecutor ended his announcement by noting that “these were not just crimes against innocent Kenyans. They were crimes against humanity as a whole. By breaking the cycle of impunity for massive crimes, victims and their families can have justice. And Kenyans can pave the way to peaceful elections in 2012.”