State backs AU resolutions on Hague trials

The government has said it will respect and follow the African Union resolutions directing that Kenyan leaders should stay away from trials in The Hague, raising the spectre of a standoff with the international community.

The African leaders over the weekend asked UN Security Council to suspend the trial of President Kenyatta and proceedings against his deputy William Ruto until they both complete their terms.

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed said that Kenya, being part of the summit that made the resolution, has to obey it.

“We are part of the decision (AU resolution) and we have signed into. We have to follow it,” said Ms Mohamed.

Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto have been charged at the ICC with crimes related to the post-election violence that left at least 1,100 people dead and displaced more than 600,000.

The Addis summit asked both President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto not to attend trials until the UN Security Council and ICC sitting in The Hague “have been adequately addressed”.

However, Mr Ruto who came back to the country at the weekend to hold a brief for the president as he attended the AU meeting in Addis Ababa has flown back to The Hague for trials.

Ms Mohamed, who was full of praise for the summit, clarified that Mr Ruto’s compliance is not in defiance of AU’s position but just to allow the processing of paper work. President Kenyatta’s trial is due to start on November 12.

“As you know our deputy president is currently at The Hague to ensure that, even as we await the processing of Africa’s request for a deferral, due process is not in any way affected,” she said.

But she declined to reveal if president Uhuru will honour the November 12 date with the ICC, if by then UN or ICC have not made decisions.

Ms Mohamed said the case facing Mr Kenyatta is no longer a personal issue but national and regional issue since he is a sitting president.