The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has called for an independent High Court division to exclusively deal with crimes against humanity.
In a statement on Monday, LSK President Isaac Okero said the country must have mechanisms to protect citizens from recurrence of political violence and criminality after General Elections.
He said the country has a responsibility to establish and maintain institutions that deliver substantial justice.
“The establishment of a functioning and independent High Court Division dealing with crimes against humanity is a step that would give despairing Kenyans hope,” Mr Okero said.
He said people responsible for tampering with witnesses and political interference of cases at the International Criminal Court (ICC) should also be brought to book.
“We are soon entering a General Elections season with perpetrators of Post-Election Violence eight years ago still at large– historical injustices remain unresolved,” Mr Okero said.
He said victims of the 2007 PEV– including some Internally Displaced Persons who received paltry monetary compensation- are still struggling with trauma.
Okero referred to the recent ICC conclusion of proceedings against Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang saying it is not an acquittal.
“No finding of guilt or innocence was made. The Court declared the proceedings a mistrial following troubling incidences of witness interference and intolerable political meddling,” Mr Okero said.
The LSK President explained that the vacation of the charges is without prejudice to their presumption of innocence or the Prosecutor's right to re-prosecute the case at a later time.
He said the reasons given by the ICC Judges to terminate the proceedings raise more questions than answers.
“Do we have local mechanisms to protect us from the recurrence of political violence and criminality? Will witness tampering and political interference remain obstacles to the pursuit of justice and legal redress?” Okero posed.
The LSK President said peace without truth and justice is a fragile peace.
“Let us reflect on the reasons given, with honest and constructive self-appraisal remembering that we are soon entering a General Election season with the perpetrators of the post-election violence of eight years ago still at large, the historical injustices unresolved,”.