Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) – International Criminal Court (ICC) judges have ordered Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to attend his status conference in person on October 8, 2014.
The judges, in a ruling from The Hague, Netherlands, late Tuesday, rejected Kenyatta’s lawyers’ bid for an excusal-a plea to be exempted from attending court in person.
Kenyatta is facing crimes against humanity charges at The Hague, alongside compatriots – Deputy President William Ruto and radio presenter Joshua Sang.
The crimes against humanity charges the trio stem from the December 2007- January 2008 post-election violence which left 1,300 people dead, 350,000 displaced and properties destroyed.
The judges also dismissed Kenyatta’s request to postpone the hearing which is set to discuss pending matters ahead of his suspended trial.
“Trial Chamber V(b) rejects the Defence’s request and orders the accused to be present in person at the status conference on 8 October,” said a statement from ICC.
The judges added that the case has reached a crucial stage that requires Kenyatta’s presence.
Kenyatta’s defence has sought immediate termination of the case, citing the prosecution’s failure to marshall adequate witnesses.
A good number of prosecution witnesses have withdrawn from the case, otherwise have changed their minds and no longer wish to testify against President Kenyatta.
ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, though blaming the two Kenyan leaders for interfering with the witnesses and intimidating them, is opposed to the termination of the cases against the Kenyan trio.
During the disputed 2007 presidential elections, Kenyatta and Uhuru were not in the race for the presidency.
They were in different camps, Kenyatta supported incumbent Mwai Kibaki of the Party of National Unity, while Ruto was backing Kibaki’s challenger Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement.
Inititially, six Kenyans faced crime against humanity charges at The Hague, but three — former Commissioner of Police, Maj.-Gen. Hussein Ali, Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura, and former Industrialisation Minister, Henry Kosgey – were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
The court, however, ruled that Kenyatta, Ruto and Sang had cases to answer and bore the greatest responsibility for the post-poll violence.
Kenyatta and Ruto are facing the following charges: murder, rape, deportation/forceful transfer of population, persecution and other inhumane acts.
Kenyatta will make history as the first head of state to appear before the court as an accused person.
Photo: EPA
