Some leaders from senate and the national assembly have urged the International Criminal Court judges to withdraw charges of crimes against humanity facing President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang.
Addressing worshippers during a fundraising event for local churches on Sunday at Total trading centre in Kuresoi North constituency, the leaders claimed the ICC was being used as a political tool ahead of the 2017 general election.
Led by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, Senator Charles Keter (Kericho) Liza Chelule (nominated) and deputy governor Joseph Ruto (Nakuru), the leaders called for immediate conclusion of the cases since witnesses lined up by the office of the prosecutor had claimed before the court that they were coached and paid to implicate the president had his deputy in connection with the violence that flared up in 2007/08.
They said in order to satisfy the member states that signed the Rome Statute, the court had no option but to withdraw the charges facing the three Kenyans.
Murkomen said the move by President Uhuru Kenyatta to attend the status conference at The Hague was a clear indication that he respects the rule of law.
The senator said the office of prosecutor, which has the responsibility of receiving referrals and any substantiated information on crimes within the jurisdiction of the court and conducting investigations, had failed and ‘misled the court for influencing witnesses with bribes in order to justify charges’.
“The whole world has witnessed that the prosecutor has no evidence to support the case. We are therefore calling on immediate conclusion of the cases,” Murkomen added.