Dr. Job
JF-Expert Member
- Jan 22, 2013
- 813
- 220
During the Presidential campaign Uhuru Kenyatta told all Kenyans that the ICC debacle was a personal matter and he would not drag Kenyans into it. So what has changed now?..why is he summoning parliament to address the ICC issue? Why has the speaker not rightly published this notice to all and sundry? I support the CORD MP's for boycotting this charade that mainly is a Jubilee problem which Jubilee MPs should address. Leave the rest of us out it please!
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No special treatment for the President
The International Criminal Court building at The Hague. FILE PHOTO | AFP
By WALTER MENYA
[h=3]In Summary[/h]
President Uhuru Kenyatta will momentarily find himself in unfamiliar territory if he attends the ICC status conference on Wednesday.
For about six hours the status conference starts at 10 a.m. up to 4 p.m. (The Hague time) with breaks in between he will have to forego many of the privileges he enjoys in his capacity as Head of State.
ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah said that while in the court premises, President Kenyattas welfare will largely be overseen by the court security and staff.
During court proceedings before ICC judges, Mr Kenyatta shall be accorded the same respectful treatment as other ICC accused, who are guaranteed fair and impartial proceedings, he said.
ICC security, in conjunction with the Dutch authorities, when necessary, ensure the safety of all persons appearing before the court as well as all personalities visiting the ICC premises, he said.
As it happens, the only persons allowed inside the courtroom are the parties to the case, the judges, prosecution and defence lawyers, victims lawyer, ICC registry and court clerks.
The other people have to make do with the conditions at the public gallery which is separated from the courtroom by a glass partition.
It means that President Kenyatta will only have limited access to his security and advisers in between the sessions which could further be diminished if he has to meet his defence team to strategise ahead of the next session.
However, outside of the court proceedings, President Kenyattas welfare will be transferred to the Dutch authorities.
Matters of Mr Kenyattas presence in the Netherlands, outside of the court proceedings, are arranged between Kenyan and Dutch authorities, Mr Abdallah said.
ASK FOR PERMISSION
On the orders of the judges, he will be officially referred to as Mr and not President while in the courtroom.
The judges stopped the parties to the case from referring to him as President in court filings or during court proceedings, arguing that referring to him by the title of his office is undesirable as it could intimidate parties.
President Kenyatta will also have to ask for permission through his lawyers in case he wants to address the court in person unless directed to do so by the judges.
Otherwise, he only consults with his defence team during the proceedings.
At the public gallery during proceedings, all the top government officials accompanying him will also not get any special treatment.
The court does not allow mobile phones into the public gallery. Conversations or pointing towards the courtroom is also not allowed.
CCTV cameras are installed at the gallery with armed ICC security personnel who can remove anyone deemed to have caused a disturbance.
PRIVATE VISIT
Meanwhile, the Dutch Government will treat President Kenyattas presence at the ICC as a private visit.
As such, the Dutch embassy in Nairobi told the Sunday Nation he will be received in Amsterdams Schiphol Airport as any other head of state on a private visit.
President Kenyatta is required to appear for a status conference at the International Criminal Court in The Hague on October 8. His visit to The Netherlands will be treated as a private visit of a head of state, Dutch embassy First Secretary (Political), Mrs Stijn Janssen, said.
Given that President Kenyattas visit has been classified as private, some of the usual courtesies and ceremonial arrangements normally extended to visiting heads of state on official or state visits may be excluded.
Mrs Janssen, however, could not be drawn into discussions over security arrangements.
For obvious reasons the embassy does not make any comments on security or logistics arrangements of the visit of President Kenyatta or any other head of state, she said.
During his stay in The Hague for his trial, Deputy President William Ruto is normally received at the airport by the Kenyan ambassador to the Netherlands, Ms Rose Muchiri.
Dutch Government officials, if at all they are at hand to receive him, normally stay in obscurity.
Mr Rutos convoy consists mostly of embassy cars as well as the blue number-plated limousines synonymous with Dutch taxis.
Dutch security personnel accompany him to the court premises. His security team also accompanies him into the ICC building through the front door.
No special treatment for the President - Politics - nation.co.ke
======================================================================
No special treatment for the President
The International Criminal Court building at The Hague. FILE PHOTO | AFP
By WALTER MENYA
[h=3]In Summary[/h]
- On the orders of the judges, he will be officially referred to as Mr and not President while in the courtroom.
- The Dutch Government will treat President Kenyattas presence at the ICC as a private visit.
President Uhuru Kenyatta will momentarily find himself in unfamiliar territory if he attends the ICC status conference on Wednesday.
For about six hours the status conference starts at 10 a.m. up to 4 p.m. (The Hague time) with breaks in between he will have to forego many of the privileges he enjoys in his capacity as Head of State.
ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah said that while in the court premises, President Kenyattas welfare will largely be overseen by the court security and staff.
During court proceedings before ICC judges, Mr Kenyatta shall be accorded the same respectful treatment as other ICC accused, who are guaranteed fair and impartial proceedings, he said.
ICC security, in conjunction with the Dutch authorities, when necessary, ensure the safety of all persons appearing before the court as well as all personalities visiting the ICC premises, he said.
As it happens, the only persons allowed inside the courtroom are the parties to the case, the judges, prosecution and defence lawyers, victims lawyer, ICC registry and court clerks.
The other people have to make do with the conditions at the public gallery which is separated from the courtroom by a glass partition.
It means that President Kenyatta will only have limited access to his security and advisers in between the sessions which could further be diminished if he has to meet his defence team to strategise ahead of the next session.
However, outside of the court proceedings, President Kenyattas welfare will be transferred to the Dutch authorities.
Matters of Mr Kenyattas presence in the Netherlands, outside of the court proceedings, are arranged between Kenyan and Dutch authorities, Mr Abdallah said.
ASK FOR PERMISSION
On the orders of the judges, he will be officially referred to as Mr and not President while in the courtroom.
The judges stopped the parties to the case from referring to him as President in court filings or during court proceedings, arguing that referring to him by the title of his office is undesirable as it could intimidate parties.
President Kenyatta will also have to ask for permission through his lawyers in case he wants to address the court in person unless directed to do so by the judges.
Otherwise, he only consults with his defence team during the proceedings.
At the public gallery during proceedings, all the top government officials accompanying him will also not get any special treatment.
The court does not allow mobile phones into the public gallery. Conversations or pointing towards the courtroom is also not allowed.
CCTV cameras are installed at the gallery with armed ICC security personnel who can remove anyone deemed to have caused a disturbance.
PRIVATE VISIT
Meanwhile, the Dutch Government will treat President Kenyattas presence at the ICC as a private visit.
As such, the Dutch embassy in Nairobi told the Sunday Nation he will be received in Amsterdams Schiphol Airport as any other head of state on a private visit.
President Kenyatta is required to appear for a status conference at the International Criminal Court in The Hague on October 8. His visit to The Netherlands will be treated as a private visit of a head of state, Dutch embassy First Secretary (Political), Mrs Stijn Janssen, said.
Given that President Kenyattas visit has been classified as private, some of the usual courtesies and ceremonial arrangements normally extended to visiting heads of state on official or state visits may be excluded.
Mrs Janssen, however, could not be drawn into discussions over security arrangements.
For obvious reasons the embassy does not make any comments on security or logistics arrangements of the visit of President Kenyatta or any other head of state, she said.
During his stay in The Hague for his trial, Deputy President William Ruto is normally received at the airport by the Kenyan ambassador to the Netherlands, Ms Rose Muchiri.
Dutch Government officials, if at all they are at hand to receive him, normally stay in obscurity.
Mr Rutos convoy consists mostly of embassy cars as well as the blue number-plated limousines synonymous with Dutch taxis.
Dutch security personnel accompany him to the court premises. His security team also accompanies him into the ICC building through the front door.
No special treatment for the President - Politics - nation.co.ke