AU Court Says has no Power to try Kenyatta

{{The African Union Court on Human and People’s Rights has no jurisdiction to handle crimes against humanity charges facing Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, its president said on Sunday.}}

Lady Justice Sophia Akuffo, however, said there were plans by the 54-member African Union to expand the court’s jurisdiction.

Speaking to journalists at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Nairobi, Lady Justice Akuffo, who is Ghanaian said a recommendation on the expansion of the court’s work is expected to be tabled before the AU Heads of State summit in January 2014 before being put to a vote.

“A team of experts is working on the recommendation,” she said.

Among the issues the experts are deliberating on is the definition of an unconstitutional change of government following the Arab Spring that swept through Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.

An AU summit had proposed that the court be strengthened to handle the cases facing President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto, who are being prosecuted at The Hague in Netherlands, among others.

But on Sunday, Lady Justice Akuffo said the court as presently constituted could not handle criminal cases.

“We are only a court of human and people’s rights. However, if expanded, the African Court will be a different thing altogether,” she said.

NMG