ICC sets up two trial chambers to hear Uhuru, Ruto cases

President Uhuru Kenyatta (right) with his deputy William Ruto after addressing the nation on March 9, 2013 in Nairobi. The International Criminal Court has constituted two trial chambers that will hear two Kenyan cases facing President Kenyatta, Mr Ruto and former radio presenter Joshua arap Sang May 21, 2013. FILE 

By DAVE OPIYO dopiyo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Tuesday, May 21  2013 at  18:22

The International Criminal Court has constituted two trial chambers that will hear two Kenyan cases facing President Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto and former radio presenter Joshua arap Sang.

The decision was made by the Court’s Presidency Tuesday to ensure "proper administration of justice, taking into consideration each judge’s workload".

Trial Chamber V consisting of Judges Robert Fremr, Kuniko Ozaki and Chile Eboe- Osuji was dissolved and instead two new chambers created to hear the two cases.

Trial Chamber V (a), will consist of Judges Olga Herrera Carbuccia, Fremr and Eboe-Osuji. It will hear the crimes against humanity cases against Mr Ruto and Mr Sang.

Judge Herrera, from the Dominican Republic, had previously been assigned to the Court’s pre-trial division.

Trial Chamber V (b), on the other hand, will now hear and determine the case against President Kenyatta. It now comprises Judges Ozaki, Fremr and Eboe-Osuji.

The court said it was the role of the ICC Presidency as part of its judicial functions to constitute Chambers, decide on their composition and assign cases to the various Chambers.