President Uhuru Kenyatta’s kin has been elected to a key committee of the International Criminal Court (ICC) based in The Hague, Netherlands.
Margaret Shava, a lawyer by profession is among 12 members sitting in the Committee on Budget and Finance at the ongoing ICC member states’ meeting in New York.
The 16th session of the ICC member states’ meeting started on Monday and is scheduled to end on Friday.
Shava was nominated by the Kenyan government following ICC’s call for recommendation since March this year.
Kenya’s Embassy in the US in a statement to AFP said: “The embassy has the honour to confirm that the Government of the Republic of Kenya has nominated Margaret Shava for election to the position of member of the Committee on Budget and Finance.
The Government of Kenya is convinced that Ms Shava, whose resume is attached herewith, meets the requirements for appointment to the above position.”
Shave is a qualified lawyer who has practiced law in the country for over 25 years.
She got to the zenith of her law career after serving as a commissioner with the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC).
The Budget and Finance committee plays a crucial role in monitoring and reviewing of budgetary allocations to the ICC as well as other resources under the control of Assembly of State Parties (ASP).
Others who were appointed to the committee include Hitoshi Kozaki (Japan), Fawzi Gharaibeh (Jordan), Mónica Izquierdo (Ecuador) and Elena Sopková (Slovakia).
Her appointment to the Hague-based criminal court has an undertone does not intend on pulling out anytime soon.
In 2014, Kenya threatened to pull out of the Rome Statute.
This was premised on the fact that President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto were facing charges against humanity at the ICC.
The two were later acquitted in 2015. ICC Prosecutor Fatou Besouda cited lack of cooperation from the Kenyan government and referred the matter to ASP.