Kenyans’ date with Ocampo, Bensouda

By CHRIS WAMALWA in US

The Hague Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo is scheduled to hold a Town Hall-style forum with the Kenyan Diaspora in America on the 2008 post-election violence and International Criminal Court (ICC) process in Kenya.

The meeting, which has attracted the attention of many Kenyans living abroad, is set to take place on Friday, December 16 in New York, and the speakers include Moreno-Ocampo’s deputy who is billed

to succeed him when he leaves ICC next July.

Gambia-born Mrs Fatou Bensouda was picked by ICC as a compromise candidate to take over from the controversial and outspoken Moreno-Ocampo. Coming as Kenyans await Pre-Trial Chamber II ruling on whether all or a few of the Kenyan six high-profiled suspects should be committed to trial, or set free altogether, the discussions will also focus on next year’s elections.

Back in Kenya it is reported three of the suspects are unsettled by the meeting, which they believe will be used by the ICC to gauge the mood of Kenyans over The Hague process, and consequently fear its proceedings may be used to justify a ‘political judgment’ detrimental to their side.

Indeed, sources reveal, some friends of the suspects were last week contemplating sending lawyers to the US to sit in the meeting and ask questions favourable to their interests. However, formalities of visa technicalities and time factors made them change mind.

According to the organisers, the event will feature interactive discussion between a diverse group of other guest speakers, including Prof Makau Mutua, a Kenyan legal scholar teaching in the US, Ms Lupita Nyong’o, one of Kenya’s top actresses and Mr Mwashuma Nyatta, a Kenyan-born, US-based artist.

"The event will feature a frank discussion on the interplay between the International Criminal Court and the upcoming elections in Kenya in 2012. This event will provide a forum to discuss the role of Kenyans living abroad in contributing to peace and justice in Kenya in 2012," explained Shamiso Mbizvo, a Kenyan student at Harvard University, who sent out the invitations and is receiving confirmations.

In an e-mail invitation sent to Kenyans living in the US, the Kenya Global Unity (KGU) President Eng. Charles Kodi, explained: "Many Kenyans here have confirmed they will attend the meeting because if the people suspects are not charged, it is likely there will be another circle of violence after next year’s elections."

Speaking to The Standard on phone from Connecticut, Kodi said so far the confirmation of Kenyans planning to attend was overwhelming.

"This should serve to show Kenyans especially those in leadership just how ordinary Kenyans are concerned about the whole ICC and post-poll violence prosecutions are being handled. Barely a year to the elections, Kenyans are living with fear at the prospects of another cycle of violence in the country," he added.

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