NAIROBI Kenya August 6 -Leaders allied to the Azimio la Umoja Coalition have raised concerns on the presence of International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan in the country.
The leaders say his presence could compromise the ongoing investigations on police brutality
Azimio principal Martha Karua on Sunday said Khan’s hosting in Kenya by Mount Kenya University and it’s founder and a friend of his former client William Ruto at a time both the Azimio and Kenya Kwanza regime have written to ICC, especially the killing spree of unarmed protestors by police was not only suspect but also a blot on the credibility of ICC.
Khan, who represented President William Ruto in the post-election violence case at The Hague, was in the country to receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Mount Kenya University (MKU).
The prosecutor was feted for his immense contribution to the promotion of justice and humanity.
Addressing the same during a church service in Mwiki, DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa said Khan’s visit to Kenya could compromise investigations on police brutality in the country.
He said the coalition’s lawyers are compiling evidence on police brutality, to support a case they intend to file at The Hague.
“We are raising a red flag over the presence of ICC prosecutor Karim Khan in Kenya,” Wamalwa said.
On Friday, Khan declined to comment Kenya’s matters at ICC, saying he is recused from it and added that on his work as a prosecutor, he always takes the side of justice.
“I always try to act on the side of justice. The main principle is whether you a prosecutor or a judge, or defence counsel, act with integrity, courage and the realisation that you are a servant of something much bigger than yourself,” Khan said.
In July, Azimio asked ICC to intervene on cases of alleged police brutality during anti-government protests.
“We are asking the ICC to take a keener interest in Kenyan issues and formally ask the Director of Public Prosecution to carry out independent and speedy investigations on perpetrators,” the Coalition said.
On Friday, Amnesty International Kenya, Kenya Medical Association, and the Law Society of Kenya raised concerns over the cases of police use of excess force in Kisumu and Kisii Counties during the Azimio la Umoja anti-government protests.
“The preliminary findings indicate that excessive force on demonstrators has been consistent since the anti-government protests began on 20 March 2023,” they said.
According to them, at least ten people were killed, most suffering bullet wounds and a few cases of blunt-force trauma. At least 107 cases of police assault were attended to in various health facilities but with 47 of those being gunshot wounds.
“Initial reports indicate that police shot indiscriminately at unarmed protestors, including those who had surrendered or were running away from the police. In one incident, an unarmed protestor, who served as an eyewitness in an arson incident, was shot and killed by a police officer,” the report dated August 4 read.
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