Uhuru, Ruto to know fate February 15

By NATION Reporter  ( email the author)

Posted  Wednesday, February 6  2013 at  10:18

SHARE THIS STORY

0

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and former Eldoret North MP William Ruto will know whether they will contest the General Election on Friday next week.

The High Court said set aside February 15 as the date it will rule on Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto's eligibility to seek elective office after interested parties concluded submissions.

A five-judge bench heard submissions from among others the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Attorney General, Mr Kenyatta, Mr Ruto and civil society groups, who filed the petition.

Mr Kenyatta is vying for the presidency while Mr Ruto is his running mate in the Jubilee alliance.

Civil society groups are challenging the eligibility of the two leaders who are facing crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The charges stem from the 2007/08 post election violence that followed a disputed presidential election.

Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto are accused of masterminding the violence in which 1,133 people were killed and 650,000 uprooted from their homes. Former head of the civil service Francis Muthaura and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang are their co-accused.

The ICC trials are expected to start in April.