Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, on the status of the Government of Kenya’s cooperation with the Prosecution's investigations in the Kenyatta case
On the 3rd of December 2014, the Judges of Trial Chamber V (B) of the International Criminal Court (ICC) found that the Government of Kenya had failed to adequately cooperate with my investigations in the case against Mr. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta. The Chamber stated, "[it] finds that, cumulatively, the approach of the Kenyan Government […] falls short of the standard of good faith cooperation" and "that this failure has reached the threshold of non-compliance" required under the Rome Statute.
In its ruling, the Chamber, therefore, found, "[…] that the Kenyan Government's non-compliance has not only compromised the Prosecution's ability to thoroughly investigate the charges, but has ultimately impinged upon the Chamber's ability to fulfill its mandate under Article 64, and in particular, its truth-seeking function in accordance with Article 69 (3) of the Statute." This is a significant finding.
The Judges have thus determined the status of the Kenyan Government's cooperation in the case against Mr. Kenyatta. Contrary to the Government of Kenya's public pronouncements that it has fully complied with its legal obligations in this case, the ruling has confirmed that in fact it has breached its treaty obligations under the Rome Statute by failing to cooperate with my investigation.
I have persistently sought to secure the cooperation that my Office required from the Government of Kenya in this case in order to execute my mandate. Crucial documentary evidence regarding the 2007-2008 post-election violence, including concerning the conduct of the accused, can only be found in Kenya and is only accessible to the Prosecution through the assistance of the Government of Kenya. This crucial assistance was ultimately not provided, as confirmed by the recent decision of the Trial Chamber.
In addition to this failure on the part of the Government of Kenya, my Office has faced other severe challenges, which have hampered my ability to thoroughly investigate the 2007-2008 post-election violence, and ultimately, frustrated the investigations in this case. These include:
- A steady and relentless stream of false media reports about the Kenya cases;
- An unprecedented campaign on social media to expose the identity of protected witnesses in the Kenya cases;
- Concerted and wide-ranging efforts to harass, intimidate and threaten individuals who would wish to be witnesses.
To be sure, the Government of Kenya's failure to provide my Office important records has had a severe adverse impact on this case. It has deprived the victims of their right to know the full account of what transpired in 2007-2008. It has further undermined my ability to carry out a full investigation. And finally, it has prevented the Judges from carrying out their critical functions of assessing the evidence and determining the truth.
Ultimately, the hurdles we have encountered in attempting to secure the cooperation required for this investigation have in large part, collectively and cumulatively, delayed and frustrated the course of justice for the victims in this case.
Mnamo tarehe 3 December 2014, Majaji wa Tawi la kesi la Chumba cha V (B) wa Mahakama ya Kimataifa ya Jinai (ICC) wameamua ya kwamba Serikali ya Kenya walishindwa vya kutosha kushirikiana kikamilifu na uchunguzi wangu katika kesi dhidhi ya Bwana Kenyatta. Chumba kilisema, "kimeona kwamba, kwa mfululizo, mtazamo wa Serikali ya Kenya […] imepungua kiwango cha nia njema ya ushirikiano mzuri" na kwamba kushindwa hii imefikia kizingiti cha kutotekeleza kinachotakikana chini ya Mkataba wa Roma.
Kwa hivyo, katika uamuzi wake, Chumba kimeona, "[...] kwamba kutotekeleza kwa Serikali ya Kenya bali kumeathiri uwezo wa Mwendesha Mashtaka kuchunguza kwa bidii sana mashtaka, lakini pia hatimaye imezuia uwezo wa Chumba wa kutimiza majukumu yake chini ya Ibara 64, na hasa, kazi yake ya utafutaji ya ukweli kwa kufuatana na Ibara 69 (3) ya Mkataba." Hii ni uamuzi muhimu.
Majaji hivyo wameamua hadhi ya ushirikiano wa Serikali ya Kenya katika kesi dhidhi ya Bwana Kenyatta. Kinyume cha matangazo ya umma ya Serikali ya Kenya kwamba wamefuata kikamilifu majukumu yao kisheria katika kesi hii, uamuzi umethibitisha kwamba kwa kweli Serikali ya Kenya imevunja majukumu yake chini ya Mkataba wa Roma kwa kushindwa kushirikiana na uchunguzi wangu.
Nimeendelea kutafuta ili nipate ushirikiano Ofisi yangu ilihitaji kutoka Serikali ya Kenya katika kesi hii ili nitekeleze mamlaka yangu. Ushahidi muhimu wa maandishi kuhusu ghasia ya baada ya uchaguzi mwaka 2007-2008, pamoja na habari za mwenendo ya mshtakiwa, inaweza kupatikana tu nchini Kenya na inaweza tu kupatikana kwa Mwendesha Mashtaka na msaada wa Serikali ya Kenya. Msaada huu muhimu hatimaye haukutolewa, kama vile ilithibitishwa na uamuzi wa hivi karibuni wa Chumba.
Na zaidi ya kushindwa kwa Serikali ya Kenya, Ofisi yangu imepata vikwazo vingine vikubwa, ambaye vimekumbana na uwezo wangu wa kuchunguza kabisa ghasia za baada ya uchaguzi mwaka 2007-2008 na hatimaye imezuia uchunguzi katika kesi hii. Hizi ni pamoja na:
- Mkondo wa taarifa za uongo kabisa thabiti na yasiyokoma kwa vyombo vya habari kuhusu kesi za Kenya;
- Kampeni isiokuwa ya kawaida kwa vyombo vya habari kijamii kwa kufichua utambulisho wa mashahidi waliopewa ulinzi katika kesi ya Kenya;
- Jitihada nyingi zilizofanywa kwa pamoja kwa kunyanyasa, kuwatisha na kutishia watu ambao wanataka kuwa mashahidi.
Kwa uhakika, kushindwa kwa Serikali ya Kenya kutoa kwa Ofisi yangu ushahidi wa vipengele muhimu imekuwa na madhara makubwa mabaya katika kesi hii. Imewanyima waathiriwa katika kesi hii kujua kwa ukamilifu kilichotendeka mnamo 2007-2008. Pia imedhoofisha uwezo wangu wa kufanya uchunguzi kamili. Mwishowe, imezuia Majaji wasitekeleze majukumu yao muhimu ya kutathmini ushahidi na kutafuta ukweli.
Hatimaye vikwazo ambazo tumevipata kwa kujaribu kupata ushirikiano unaohitajika kwa uchunguzi huu kwa sehemu kubwa, pamoja na kwa mfululizo, imechelewesha na kuzuia mkondo wa sheria kwa waathiriwa katika kesi hii.
Chanzo: Ofisi ya Mwendesha Mashtaka