The International Criminal Court Presidency has said it has no legal powers to consider arguments and concerns related to ongoing Kenyan cases.
Responding to a letter from the African Union, ICC Second Vice-President clarified that such matters should be raised before the relevant Chambers in accordance with the Rome Statute and the ICC’s Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
AU chairperson had written the letter addressing various aspects of the ongoing ICC proceedings against Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto and former radio presenter Joshua Arap Sang.
The three are facing crimes against humanity charges allegedly committed in Kenya in the 2007-2008 post-election violence that killed about 1300 people.
The vice-president further said that there are no pending requests before the ICC deferral of Kenya-related cases to Kenyan judicial institutions.
“In response to a reference made in the letter from the African Union, there are no pending requests before the ICC for the deferral of Kenya-related cases to Kenyan judicial institutions’’, he said.
He added: “The Judges of the Court must take all their decisions in accordance with the mandate and legal framework established by the States that created the Court – including the 34 African States that are party to the Rome Statute”.
He also reiterated that The Hague based Court remains fully committed to friendly and cooperative relations with the African Union in the spirit of the AU’s and ICC’s shared values.-standardmedia.co.ke
