Kenyatta's ICC Date in the Mire?
Published: 15 October 2013 By Abiodun Giwa
Following the African Union's request for a postponement of President Uhuru Kenyatta's appearance at the trial in The Hague for a year after its meeting in Adiss-Ababa last weekend, reports say Western diplomats are considering the request, based on a report by The Telegraph. But the deputy president, Williams Ruto, says in a press conference at The Hague that he prefers that the case continues, if the judges will allow him to attend to duties in Kenya, though Kenya has formally applied to the United Nations for deferral.
A source says that the AU's request is not unconnected with security situation in Kenya caused by a recent terrorist's attack in the country, and that it is possible that AU may have frowned against the condescending nature of a demand for African leaders to appear at the Hague for trial.
“Uhuru is not an indicted figure who is defying the court like Sudan’s president (Omar) Bashir. He is someone who is working closely with the West in a region in chaos that needs to tackle a very worrying terrorist situation,” Kenya's Daily Nation reported a senior European official quoted anonymously by the Telegraph.
The European official was reported to have added that a solution must be found that avoids a breakdown in relations with President Kenyatta or the court’s authority.
A source says that the AU's request is not unconnected with security situation in Kenya caused by a recent terrorist's attack in the country, and that it is possible that AU may have frowned against the condescending nature of a demand for African leaders to appear at the Hague for trial.
“Uhuru is not an indicted figure who is defying the court like Sudan’s president (Omar) Bashir. He is someone who is working closely with the West in a region in chaos that needs to tackle a very worrying terrorist situation,” Kenya's Daily Nation reported a senior European official quoted anonymously by the Telegraph.
The European official was reported to have added that a solution must be found that avoids a breakdown in relations with President Kenyatta or the court’s authority.
