International Criminal Court Observing Violence Closely
The Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) is closely observing recent post-election Kenyan violence, according to reports from The Hague, the court’s seat. Two Kenyan opponents, President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), threatened separately Tuesday to appeal to ICC, but apparently being unaware of the rules of referral. Asked over the issue, a member of the office of the prosecutor told the Hirondelle News Agency, that “Kenya is a state party of ICC and the Office of the Prosecutor follows all allegations of crimes within its jurisdiction.” The statute of the ICC enables it to exercise its jurisdiction if a situation is submitted to the Prosecutor by a State Party or by the Security Council of the UN but it also allows it (Art 15) to exercise its jurisdiction under the terms of an investigation opened by the Prosecutor by his own initiative.
Rescue Kenya 