By Paul Mwaura
Garowe Online   | Nairobi, Kenya

The African Union Commission Chairperson Jean Ping has said Kenya has the right to reassess its position as a signatory of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Ping who addressed a media conference at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia said as a sovereign state Kenya has a right to also ask for a deferral of the cases facing six people picked by ICC Prosecutor Louis Moreno-Ocampo as bearing the greatest responsibility for the 2008 post election violence.

Kenya can also relook at the cases to see if they really merit that the individuals named by Ocampo should face the court proceedings.

Ping who has been a major critic of the way Ocampo is addressing the Kenyan case at the ICC said for Ocampo to say he was using Kenya as an example already shows that he is vindictive and will stop at nothing in nailing the six people that he has named as the key suspects in the post election violence that gripped Kenya following the general election of 2007.

"Ocampo has behaved as if already those he named are criminals by announcing them openly before the international media in disdain," said Ping.

"This shows double standards, why has Ocampo not said the same of the Gaza, Myanmar and elsewhere, why Kenya?" he posed.

He said the African Union has nothing against the ICC but Ocampo ought not to use double standards. He said those that Ocampo named are merely suspects and should not be treated as though they were already criminals.

Ping said for Kenya to lobby the AU for a deferral was right as the country had to use like minded friends who are seeing the wrong being committed to the country.

Earlier in the day the legal advisor to the AUC Ben Kioko said the Executive Council of the AU has endorsed support for Kenya's position of demanding a deferral of the ICC case facing the six individuals.

Ocampo recently named Eldoret North MP William Ruto, Industrialisation Minister Henry Kosgey, journalist with KASS FM Joshua Sang, Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura and Post Master General Ali as prime suspects in the post election violence.

GAROWE ONLINE