NAIROBI, DECEMBER 9, 2014(CISA)-Justice for victims of the 2007-2008 post-election violence is still an urgent priority, Amnesty International says.
Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes Muthoni Wanyeki said this following the International Criminal Court’s withdrawal of charges of crime against humanity against President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday December 5.
“…Victims of these crimes are still waiting for justice and closure,” stated a press release signed by Ms Wanyeki.
“The withdrawal of the charges is not a vindication of President Uhuru Kenyatta; rather it is an indictment of the government of Kenya and the International Criminal Court, both of which continue to fail the victims of the post-election violence by denying them the justice they rightfully deserve,” said the statement.
She noted that the government of Kenya has “failed to ensure justice is done at the national level.”
Amnesty International urged the ICC to investigate “others who may be responsible for crimes during the post-election violence.”
“Six years on, the victims are still crying for justice. The government of Kenya’s lack of cooperation with the Office of the Prosecutor is deplorable and today’s ruling will not deter us from supporting them in their pursuit of that goal,” she added.
In July this year, Amnesty International released a report titled; Crying for Justice – Victims’ perspectives on justice for the post-elections violence in Kenya.
The report hit on the government’s failure to properly investigate crimes committed during the 2007-2008 post-election violence and to provide justice and reparation for its victims.
The violence claimed more than 1,100 lives, left 660,000 homeless and thousands more suffering with lasting injuries.
