ICC Prosecutor Addresses Raila’s Report on Ruto
Karim Khan, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, responded cautiously to reports claiming that he had been given a letter prepared by the opposing party. This letter requested an investigation into the acts of violence carried out during President William Ruto’s tenure.
In an interview with TV47 on Friday, August 4th, Khan chose not to get involved in the dispute between Ruto and the opposition leader, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Instead, he chose to stay silent, evidently influenced by the delicate nature of the issue and the cautious stance adopted by the ICC when dealing with serious accusations concerning human rights violations.
“Let me recuse myself there,” Khan declined to respond.
Khan, who acted as the legal counsel for Ruto and media figure Joshua Sang during their prosecution for crimes against humanity in 2007, avoided direct answers during the interview, even when faced with persistent questioning about the letter.
In April 2023, reports were claiming that the ICC prosecutor had confirmed receiving the letter. However, the prosecutor was still deliberating on whether to initiate investigations.
Paul Mwangi, the legal representative of Raila Odinga, alleged that President Ruto and the Inspector General of Police, Japhet Koome, were responsible for coordinating assaults on nonviolent demonstrators and causing damage to assets situated at Northlands Farm, which is under the ownership of the Kenyatta family.
The advocacy organization Operation Linda Ugatuzi also penned a letter to Khan, urging them to initiate legal proceedings against President William Ruto, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, and IG Koome. The group alleged that these individuals were involved in committing crimes against humanity.
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The government responded to both accusations by dispatching a very similar letter to Khan, requesting that he look into and take legal action against Raila for orchestrating demonstrations against the government. These protests resulted in property damage and loss of life.
Attorney Adrian Kamotho, who advocated for both governmental interests and a collective known as Victims of Maandamano Insurgents (VMI), asserted on the 28th of July, Friday, that his clients had suffered the most from the unlawful activities committed by demonstrators.
Khan Backs Ruto Reforms Agenda
However, the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC expressed approval for President William Ruto’s efforts to bring about changes within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Khan urged the UN body to incorporate the views of other world leaders and offer permanent seats to other countries other than the Big Five; China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
“As humanity, we are a working progress. There is a simple reality: five great powers hold vetoes in the United Nations. That is the fact of the matter.
“The noise that is generated in these discussions is a challenge for all of us. We must not get deviated from facts by noise but hear the truth of the situation,” Khan backed Ruto.
He further stated that Africa plays a crucial role in the implementation of global fairness, and its nations should be given an equitable opportunity within the council.
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“In fact, Kenya does not have vetoes, similar to Pakistan and India, who are not even Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council, and the list goes on.
“However, within this imperfect and evolving system that we have, we need to apply the Law more effectively. We are now trying to build more partnerships with Africa. I am trying to create a dynamic in which it does not matter whether it is me who is the prosecutor or it is the ICC flag that is behind the Judge,” Khan stated.
Speaking at the third African Parliamentarians Summit on Climate Policy and Equity in South Africa in May 2023, Ruto asserted that Africa should be granted a minimum of two permanent positions on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
He contended that the continent continued to face significant challenges in its efforts to engage in international diplomacy, maintain peace and security, and conduct trade on a global scale.
Khan undertook a visit to Kenya on the 4th of August, Friday. During his time there, he spoke to the graduating class at Mount Kenya University, receiving an honorary Doctor of Law degree as part of the event.
ICC Prosecutor Addresses Raila’s Report on Ruto
