Lobby groups say Kenya hostile to ICC

Lobby groups say Kenya hostile to ICC


Updated Thursday, September 5th 2013 at 20:39 GMT +3

By Standard Reporter
Kenya: The motion for withdrawal from Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in the Kenya National Assembly signals the first direct hostility of Kenya to the International Criminal Court, according to lobby groups International Center for Policy and Conflict (ICPC) and Kenya Transitional Justice Network (KTJN).

The National Assembly Thursday passed a motion to introduce a bill, within 30 days, seeking pull Kenya out of the Rome Statute that forms the ICC.
The lobby group argues that the motion demonstrates the country’s first step towards non-cooperation with the Court.
“We are fully aware that the motion has zero effects on the Kenya situation cases, Kenya obligations to the Rome Statute (Article 127 of Rome Statute, and Constitution of Kenya 2010 specifically Articles 2(6), 10 and 143(4),” the lobby groups argue.
“We also note that since beginning of 2008, government of Kenya has never credibly investigated and prosecuted the middle and lower persons responsible for committing the crimes directly on the ground.”
The groups add that this is a demonstration of lack of will to punish serious crimes subsequently ending prevailing climate of endemic impunity on part of the government of Kenya.