Calls for Arrest of Sudan President Omar al Bashir Once He Attends Uhuru's Inauguration

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Kenya chapter wants government to arrest Sudan President Omar Al Bashir once he attends President Uhuru's inauguration on Tuesday.

In a letter to acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi and Attorney General Githu Muigai, ICJ wants the Sudan president, who is a wanted man at the International Criminal Court arrested.

Through Nderitu & Partners advocates, ICJ cites warrants of arrest against Bashir locally and internationally by ICC.

“We have received information indicating that President Omar al Bashir is expected to be among the State guests due to attend the swearing in of Uhuru Kenyatta scheduled to take place on Tuesday,” reads the letter in part.

“We are concerned about his imminent travel to Kenya, and we have instructions from our client to formally lodge our client’s protest to his intended travel, and to request you to cause his arrest should he come to Kenya.”

ICC Judge Nicholas Ombija issued a warrant of arrest against al Bashir in 2011 after another was issued in 2009.

“By way of background, a warrant for the arrest of President al Bashir was issued by the High Court of Kenya at Nairobi in High Court Miscellaneous Criminal Application No. 685 of 2010. We expect, by virtue of the fact that your respective offices were part of that litigation process, that both of you are aware of these factual circumstances,” ICJ Kenya says in their letter.

“We request you as the State Officer in charge of Internal Security and Coordination of Government, and as principal adviser to the Government under Article 156(4)(a) of the Constitution, respectively, and as members of the Committee to the Assumption to the Office of President, to advise the President that President al Bashir’s invitation and subsequent presence on the territory of Kenya amounts to a breach of the Constitution, the International Crimes Act, and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,” reads the letter.

Bashir is facing five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes as well as three counts of genocide. In August 2010, Kenya received heavy criticism from the international community for failing to arrest Bashir, who attended the promulgation of the constitution as a state guest.