ISS Launch, Nairobi: Perspectives on and Impact of the International Criminal Court's Cases in Kenya

Date: 2012-10-25

Venue: Fairmont, Norfolk Hotel , , Nairobi

NOTE: This event is fully booked.

As Kenya looks towards the 2013 general elections, it is necessary to assess the impact of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on criminal justice and related developments in the country. The ICC is pursuing cases against four individuals, two of them prominent presidential aspirants, relating to the 2007–08 post-election violence. This comes at a time when the ICC’s role in Africa and in particular in Kenya is being questioned. While some view the ICC as an important tool for ending impunity globally, others accuse the Hague-based court of selectively targeting African countries and their leaders.

Important questions have been raised not only about the ICC’s role in ending impunity in Kenya but also about its impact on the state’s ability to respond to the post-election violence; help ensure free, fair and credible elections in 2013; and contribute towards the implementation of the new Constitution and related reforms. As Kenya approaches its much-anticipated 2013 general elections, the key questions are: What are the prospects of elections-related violence? Has the ICC helped safeguard against further violent political mobilisation? Has the ICC encouraged reconciliation? These critical questions will be discussed and debated at this seminar, which will also launch two research papers published recently by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya).

Chairperson: Jemima Kariri, ISS

Speakers:

• Muthoni Wanyeki, Former Executive Director, Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), and author of ‘The International Criminal Court’s cases in Kenya, Origin and Impact’,ISS Paper 237, August 2012

• George Kegoro, Executive Director, Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya) and author of ‘On the Brink: Kenya and the International Criminal Court’, published in Perspective, Political Analysis and Commentary from Africa, Heinrich Böll Foundation, 2012.

• Dorcas Oduor, Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Department of Economic, International, and Emerging Crimes: ‘Ending impunity for international crimes in Kenya – progress and prospects’

• Prof. Githu Muigai, Attorney General: Keynote speech

ISS Rule: Participants are free to use the information presented, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participants, may be revealed without his/her express permission.