sylvia Nankya, Kampala Uganda.
The prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) Louis Moreno Ocampo has named six high-profile Kenyans accused of being behind the violence that followed the disputed 2007 elections.
They include Uhuru Kenyatta, the deputy PM and finance minister, Henry Kosgey, minister for industrialization, suspended education minister William Ruto, Joshua Arap Sang, a radio executive, Francis Kirimi Muthaura, secretary to the cabinet and Mohammed Hussein Ali, the former police chief.
William Ruto, radio executive Joshua Arap Sang and Henry Kosgey are charged with murder, deportation, persecutions and torture, carried out on behalf of the former opposition.
Ocampo said these were not only crimes against innocent Kenyans, but they were crimes against humanity.
Each of the six will be served with a court summons, but if they fail to turn up or if they attempt to hinder the investigation - for example by intimidating witnesses - Mr Ocampo says he will request arrest warrants.
The violence broke out three years ago after President Mwai Kibaki's supporters were accused of trying to rig the presidential election.
Some 1,200 people died and more than 500,000 fled homes.
It ended when Kibaki and his rival Raila Odinga agreed to share power, with Mr Odinga becoming prime minister.
Degree of panic
The ICC alleges a criminal plan was put in place in the Rift Valley for supporters of President Kibaki to be attacked after the election.
ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo said that in retaliation, police were given the green light to use excessive force and a vigilante group was organized to attack civilians.
On President Kibaki's side, secretary to the cabinet Francis Kirimi Muthaura, former police chief Mohammed Hussein Ali and Mr Kenyatta, son of founding President Jomo Kenyatta, face charges of murder, deportation, persecutions and rape.
Kenyan police have been put on alert in case the announcement sparks renewed clashes.
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