President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya is in the Hague today attending the status conference of the International Criminal Court where he is charged with crimes against humanity arising out of disputed elections in 2008.
This is because he was charged before the court before he was elected the President of Kenya.
Addressing a Special Sitting of Parliament on Monday, President Kenyatta was emphatic: “I am attending the status conference in my personal capacity since I was charged before I became President and my status as Head of State is not on trial.
“The move should not be used to set precedence for other sitting Heads of State to honour ICC summons.”
President Kenyatta’s Monday address ended days of anxiety among Kenyans when he announced that he would be honouring summons by the ICC to attend October 8 status conference.
The President also announced at special parliamentary sitting that he had appointed Deputy President William Ruto as acting President “during the time that I will be at The Hague.”
Article 147 (3) of the Constitution of Kenya spells out that when the President is absent or temporarily incapacitated, and during any other period that the President decides, the Deputy President shall act as the President.
President Kenyatta maintained that “I’m innocent of all the accusations levelled against me and I’m optimistic that the case will be terminated since even the prosecutor has admitted that there is no sufficient evidence to enable the case to proceed.”
Attorney General Githu Muigai left Kenya Monday to be present in Tuesday’s status conference, which the president was not required to attend.
Some legislators led by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and Majority Whip of the National Assembly mobilized fellow leaders to accompany President Kenyatta to The Hague in a show of solidarity with some already gone in an advance party.
Others are set to travel Tuesday morning in time for the Wednesday status conference. The legislators will however not be allowed into the ICC chamber.