ICC drops charges against Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta

The International Criminal Court has withdrawn crimes against humanity charges against Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta

In the statement below, dated 5th Dec 2014, prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said she withdrew the case since she din’t have enough enough evidence to go ahead with Uhuru Kenyatta’s case.

A section of Fatou Bensouda’s statement withdrawing Uhuru Kenyatta’s ICC case:

“In light of the Trial Chamber’s 3 December 2014 “Decision on Prosecution’s application for a further adjournment”, the Prosecution withdraws the charges against Mr Kenyatta.

The evidence has not improved to such an extent that Mr Kenyatta’s alleged criminal responsibility can be proven beyond reasonable doubt.

For this reason, and in light of the Trial Chamber’s rejection of the Prosecution’s request for an adjournment until the Government of Kenya complies with its co-operation obligations under the Rome Statute, the Prosecution withdraws its charges.

As noted by the Trial Chamber, this withdrawal is without prejudice to the possibility of bringing new charges against Mr Kenyatta “at a later date, based on the same or similar factual circumstances, should [the Prosecution] obtain sufficient evidence to support such a course of action”.

Judges at the ICC had given prosecutor Fatou Bensouda 1 week to either withdraw Uhuru Kenyatta’s case or provide fresh evidence