International court to act over Kenyan election violence

The International Criminal Court prosecutor intends to pursue charges against "those most responsible" for Kenya's 2008 post-election violence, his office said yesterday.

ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said he wanted a three-pronged approach: the ICC prosecuting the worst offenders; a special tribunal in Kenya for other perpetrators and a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to look at the underlying causes of the violence.

The post-election violence in Kenya killed at least 1,300 people and uprooted more than 300,000 in east Africa's biggest economy. Activists say a handful of prominent figures, including several ministers, should face justice.

Foreign donors, disillusioned Kenyans and local markets, which sank during last year's crisis – said to have been fuelled as politicians stoked racial tensions – have followed the debate closely. Last month, Mr Moreno-Ocampo met representatives of Kenyan civil society organisations who had travelled to The Hague to explain their position on the post-election violence.

"Kenya will be a world example on managing violence," Mr Moreno-Ocampo said yesterday. His office said "decisive consultations" would take place with principal officials in Kenya over the next few weeks.