Editor's Review

  • ICC asks Kenya to facilitate the surrender of two suspects
  • This comes barely a week after lawyer Paul Gicheru surrendered
  • ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda welcomed Mr Gicheru's surrender as she eyes two other suspects

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has asked Kenya to avail two suspects indicted for interfering with witnesses in Deputy President William Ruto's case.

The office of the ICC prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda made the request on Wednesday after a third accused, lawyer Paul Gicheru, surrendered to Dutch police.

Bensouda said she "welcomed the news" of Mr. Gicheru's surrender and wanted Kenya to facilitate the arrest of the two remaining suspects.

She was making reference to Mr. Walter Barasa and Mr. Philip Bett who alongside Mr. Gicheru are facing charges of allegedly bribing six prosecution witnesses to recant their statements.

The ICC prosecutor wants Kenyan authorities to facilitate their surrender to The Hague-based court "so that their guilt or innocence on the charges against them may be determined in a court of law."

In the case, Dr. Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang were charged with fomenting violence after the 2007 elections that left some 1,200 people dead and over 600,000 displaced.

An arrest warrant was issued on August 2, 2013, against Barasa on account of interfering with three ICC witnesses.