NOW BENSOUDA WANTS THREE KENYANS SURRENDERED TO ICC

ICC PROSECUTOR FATOU BENSOUDA

Stung by the termination of the last high-profile Kenyan case,ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda yesterday turned to three other Kenyans.She accused Walter Barasa,Paul Gicheru and Phillip Kipkoech Bett of interfering with witnesses in the case.
In a long-winded statement reacting to Tuesdays dropping of charges against Deputy President William Ruto and his co-accused Joshua arap Sang,the prosecutor demanded immediate surrender of Barasa,Gicheru and Bett.
She blamed a perfect storm of witness interference and intense politicization of her case for its collapse.The prosecutor was at pains to explain her efforts to nail the duo and indicated her resolve to cling on the remaining three for redemption.
Bensouda wants them in on charges of obstructing the courses of justice in the case against Ruto and Sang.
None of the three suspects,who have been charged by the court with obstructing the course of justice in this case,has yet been surrendered to the court by the Government of Kenya.I call on the authorities of the Republic of Kenya to fulfill their obligations under the Rome Statute and surrender these three suspects to the court without further delay,she said.
She said the hostile environment referenced in Tuesday decision under-scored the necessity for the Government of Kenya to surrender the three to the custody of the court.
With regard to the decision terminating the case against Ruto and Sang,the prosecutor said her office was still in the process of carefully assess sing the decision to determine the appropriate steps to take.
In the statement,Bensouda expressed her frustration with the Kenyan Government,the judicial arm of the court and sections of Kenyans.