Enforcing of ICC warrant of arrest against Walter Baraza subject to Kenyan judicial process, says AG Muigai

By Standard Digital Reporter

Attorney General (AG) Githu Muigai has said the procedure for enforcing any warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against any individual in Kenya is subject to clear procedure set out under the International Crimes Act 2010.

This comes after the ICC requested the Kenyan government to immediately arrest Walter Barasa and hand him over to the court for allegedly tampering with witnesses on the underway case facing Deputy President William Ruto

“The procedure for enforcing any warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against any individual in Kenya is subject to the very clear procedure set out under the International Crimes Act 2010,” said the AG.

According to the AG, procedures require the minister in charge of the interior upon receiving a formal warrant of arrest, he should present it to the judiciary for enforcement.

" During the judicial consideration of the legality of the warrant, the subject is entitled to make representations to the court. The final determination on the enforce-ability of the warrant is therefore a judicial one." added Githu.

The Hague-based court issued a warrant of arrest against Barasa on Wednesday after ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda accused him of interfering with prosecution witnesses.

“There is evidence to suggest that Walter Barasa tried to bribe someone he thought was a prosecution witness in the case against Deputy President William Ruto,” Bensouda said.

The prosecution added that they have conducted a comprehensive investigation on the basis of documented allegations of witness interference.

“The evidence collected so far indicates that there is a network of people who are trying to sabotage the case against Mr Ruto by interfering with Prosecution witnesses. Walter Barasa, against whom compelling evidence has been collected, has been part of this network, and his actions fit into this wider scheme that the Office continues to investigate,” read part of the statement sent.