MANDATE: Deputy President William Ruto, DR Congo First Lady Olive Lembe and President Joseph Kabila. Photo/REBECCA NDUKU/DPPS
PRESIDENT Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto were both away from the country yesterday.
The two have on several occasions told the ICC that they cannot be out of the country at the same time because doing so would violate the constitution.
Yesterday, Uhuru left for Juba, South Sudan for a oneday visit.
Ruto left the country for Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday. He is attending the 17th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa summit. Uhuru was however expected back in the country yesterday but Ruto may not be back until Friday. He is scheduled to go to Nigeria from Kinshasa to represent Uhuru in the country’s centenary celebrations.
“We will work with ICC, but it must understand that Kenya also has a Constitution. Ruto and myself cannot therefore be away at the same time,” Uhuru said last September in Ruiru stadium where he and Ruto attended a prayer rally.
“When Ruto is at the Hague, I will be here, and when I am at the Hague, Ruto will be in Kenya.”
“We have agreed to work with the court but they must respect our Constitution.” Their lawyers at the ICC relied on a similar sentiment while seeking to change the schedules for their trials, both which were to start last year.
The court agreed to alternate the trial sessions after factoring their arguments as well as the fact that the court has only two courtrooms.
Uhuru’s trial was however later postponed. In Juba yesterday, Uhuru was to take part in talks to resolve the crisis in the country. He was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Secretary Amina Mohamed and his special envoy in the peace process Dalmas Otieno.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment