Editor's Review

  • The lobby group claims politicians are fanning fires of violence ahead of next year's polls. 
  • This would be the second time ICC might make a comeback in Kenya. 

The International Criminal Court might make a comeback in Kenya ahead of the 2022 polls. 

This is after a non-governmental organization appealed to the new ICC prosecutor Karim Khan to monitor the country's political situation. 

The lobby group, International Center for Policy and Conflict (ICPC), notes that the political activity in the country is a breeding ground for violence. 

In a statement, the group's executive director Ndung'u Wainaina notes that a section of Kenyan politicians was now resorting to ethnic mobilization and making public utterances that can stoke tensions and ethnic conflicts.

"The Prosecutor must pay particular attention to any reports of inciting hatred, exclusion, and physical violence. The Prosecutor must warn anyone who commits, orders, incites, encourages, or contributes, in any other way, to the commission of Rome Statute crimes, is liable to prosecution by the ICC," Ndung'u said.

Last week, parties to the International Criminal Court elected Karim Khan as the new Prosecutor for a nine-year term starting on June 16.

Khan was Deputy President William Ruto's lead lawyer at the ICC and represented former Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura.

ICPC also called on the international community to strongly speak out and take concrete actions against the state and individuals responsible for subverting the Constitution and the rule of law.

He said state impunity and state power abuse are on the rise and should not be allowed to prevail.

Ahead of next year's polls, the country has witnessed cases of political intolerance characterized by violence. 

There are fears that the situation might lead to political violence, as witnessed during the 2007 post-election violence.

Back then, ICC prosecutor Louis Ocampo formally opened charges against William Ruto, Uhuru Kenyatta, Francis Muthaura, Stephen Sang, Mohammed Ali, and Henry Kosgei. They were all acquitted.