ICC To Open Office In Kenya

The Kenyan government has signed an agreement allowing the International Criminal Court to open an office in Kenya.

The agreement was signed between the visiting ICC registrar Silvana Arbia and the cabinet sub committee on post election violence.

ICC wants to set up base in Kenya before another team of investigators jet into the country this month to conclude investigations.

Addressing the press after signing the papers, Internal Security Minister Prof. George Saitoti said the government will cooperate with the ICC to end the culture of impunity in the country.

The letters of agreement signed on Friday set out 16 privileges and immunities for The Hague court's smooth running.

On her side, Ms Arbia challenged the Kenyan government to fulfill its pledge to support the process of seeking justice for the victims of the 2007/2008 post election violence.

The ICC official is in the country to seek an agreement with the government to ensure that the court's staff who will be in the country will operate "freely and safely".

ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo is expected back in the country in November to finalize preparations for the indictment of the post poll violence suspects.

Ocampo last Sunday said he stood by his promise to seek arrest warrants by the end of the year for up to six Kenyans from both sides of the election violence that killed 1,300 people in 2008.

"I promised to present two cases this year and I will do it," he said. Each case would involve two or three people" Ocampo told reuters.

He declined to confirm reports a that several key witnesses in the Kenyan cases had been flown out of the country to ensure their safety. "I have a duty to protect the witnesses and we are doing that," he said.

Already, ICC has identified 396 witnesses some of whom are being protected by the court.

http://www.kbc.co.ke/news.asp?nid=66183