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Kenyans are Losing Faith in ICC Investigator, Luis Moreno Ocampo
Luis Moreno Ocampo addressing the press in Nairobi today
International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo arrived in Nairobi this morning to a calm and suspicious reception. From the look of things, Kenyans are fast losing faith in him and may even be taking him for a collaborator in what they perceive as government plans to defeat efforts to bring to book the actual perpetrators of the 2007 post election violence.
Initially, Kenyans were convinced that the ICC, with its big muscle, was the place to get justice for crimes committed against humanity in Kenya during the 2007/2008 post election violence. But when its famous prosecutor arrived in Nairobi late last year for preliminary investigations, it was clear from his manner of speaking that he wasn’t the man Kenyans expected. He isn’t the tough talking lawyer they expected him to be. And worse, he seems to be a man without an inquisitive mind, making him open to manipulation and misuse.
“Ocampo, the Tourist”
During that visit, for example, he became a comfortable state visitor, even allowing the Kenyan Justice Minister Mr. Mutula Kilonzo, to arrange a colorful and heavily publicized visit to Game Park. If the government wanted to ruin Ocampo’s credibility, then it managed to do so. The next day, Kenyans were calling him, “Ocampo, the tourist. “
Still Unacquainted with Kenyan Mind
On arrival today, he unfortunately showed he was still very much unacquainted with the psychology and mind of the Kenyan. He reiterated that he would ensure that he prosecuted “those who attack the community.” In their literal meaning, the words indicate that Ocampo will be after the policeman who pulled the trigger that gunned down a civilian. He will be after the drunken fellows and hooligans who are often shown breaking the windscreens of buses and minibuses.
Defining Crime against Humanity
And this is where absurdity comes in. Just who is guilty in cases of crimes against humanity? You can only commit such crimes if you are in power. Those out of power cannot. Mr. Ocampo has not wanted to ply the correct definition and that is why he has ruined his credibility by being cozy with the government.
A policeman has the gun, but he has no power. The thugs and drunken fellows with sticks and stones do not have power. Kenyans are much more educated and informed to know that Ocampo’s is the search of the man who has lost his need in a dark house and walks out to look for it because there is light out there. It is sheer waste of time.
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