Uhuru off to the Hague with 120 strong entourage.



President Uhuru Monday ended days of anxiety among Kenyans by announcing that he would be honouring summons by the International Criminal Court ( ICC) to attend October 8 status conference.


During a special sitting of the Parliament, the President also announced that he had appointed DP William Ruto as acting President during the time that he will be at The Hague. Article 147 (3) of the Constitution of Kenya spells out that when the President is absent or temporarily incapacitated, and during any other period that the President decides, the Deputy President shall act as the President.

The President however made it clear he was attending the status conference in his personal capacity since he was charged before he became President and his status as Head of State is not on trial. He said the move should not be used to set precedence for other sitting Heads of State to honour ICC summons.

See also: Opposition MPs vow to boycott special session to be addressed by Uhuru Uhuru maintained that he is innocent of all the accusations levelled against him and expressed optimism that the case will be terminated since even the prosecutor has admitted that there is no sufficient evidence to enable the case to proceed. Attorney General Githu Muigai has already left the country to be present in tomorrow’s status conference, which the president was not required to attend.

Some legislators led by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and Majority Whip of the National Assembly mobilized fellow leaders to accompany president to The Hague in a show of solidarity and some of the have already left the country. Others are set to travel Tuesday morning in time for the Wednesday status conference. The legislators will however not be allowed into the ICC chamber.
Read more at: Standard Digital News - Kenya : Uhuru Kenyatta appoints William Ruto acting president as he heads to The Hague for ICC status conference
 


Acting President William Ruto waves to a cheering crowd outside Harambee House on October 6, 2014. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI


President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday evening handed power to his deputy, William Ruto, and left Harambee House as a civilian.

Mr Ruto, on the other hand, left the building an hour later as the country's Acting President.

Moments after addressing Parliament, President Kenyatta had walked side by side with his deputy to Harambee house accompanied by dozens of MPs and senior government officials.

A crowd of milled both sides of Harambee avenue. The President acknowledged their cheers. Mr Ruto smiled. The duo soon disappeared into Harambee House. It was 4.35 pm.

A crowd of MPs and senior government officials, including Cabinet secretaries remained chatting at the lounge.

About 30 minutes later, Uhuru Kenyatta emerged.

MPs and senators lined the entrance and stretched hands. Mr Kenyatta walked through, shaking hands.

PRIVATE CITIZEN

A grey Mercedes Benz that bore private registration numbers was waiting for him. Normally, he would have left in a convoy of ten cars and six outriders. This time, just two cars followed him.

He sunk on the car's back seat. He was a private citizen now.

Acting President William Ruto remained behind, holed in a brief meeting with senior officials that took over an hour.

Journalists camping outside stood, got tired and sat on the green grass behind the parking lots. The MPs on the other side kept chatting, laughing and shaking hands again and again.

Meanwhile, the crowd outside Harambee House kept swelling.

Six presidential outriders waited outside, alongside the Acting President's shiny limousine.

William Ruto emerged. Excited MPs and senators again lined at the entrance and stretched hands.

Mr Ruto walked through, shaking hands. He entered the limousine. Sirens blared. The crowd cheered .

The Acting President was now in power.

Hours later, Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen tweeted: "Fast Forward to 2022."TODAY" will be replayed....when @wsruto will be inaugurated" It's williamsRuto."

William Ruto gets a taste of power as Acting President - Politics - nation.co.ke
 


Rais Kenyatta amesisitiza hana hatia na wala hana hofu kuwa mahakama itaamua vinginevyo

Rais wa Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta amesema yuko radhi kwenda katika mahakama ya kimataifa ya ICC kwa kikao maalum kuhusu kesi inayomkabili.
Akiwahutubia wabunge mjini Nairobi,aliwaambia kuwa yuko tayarti kuhudhuria kikao maalum alichotakiwa kuhudhuria mjini Hague bila wasiwasi wowote.
Kenyatta alitakiwa na majaji wa mahakama hiyo kufika ICC tarehe 8 mwezi huu kufafanua madai kuwa serikali yake imekataa kushirikiana na mahakama hiyo hasa upande wa mashitaka kwa kukataa kuipatia ushahidi unaohitajika katika kesi inayomkabili.

Rais Kenyatta anasema anajiamini na kwamba anajua hana hatia katika tuhuma zinazomkabili

Anakabiliwa na tuhuma za kupanga ghasia za kikabila zilizokumba nchi hiyo baada ya uchaguzi wa mwaka 2007/2008.
Aliarifu bunge kuwa anajiamini mwenyewe kiasi cha kuwa tayari kufika mbele ya ICC na kwamba anajua hana hatia katika kesi inayomkabili.
Alisema Kenya ni nchi huru na kwamba haitawahi kuwa chini ya mamlaka nyingine yoyote.

Kenyatta na naibu Rais William Ruto ambaye pia anakabiliwa na kesi katika mahakama ya ICC

Takriban wabunge miamoja wanajiandaa kuambatana na Kenyatta Hague katika ishara yao ya kumuunga mkono.
Uhuru amemkabidhi mamlaka kwa muda naibu wake William Ruto hadi atakaporejea.chanzo.BBC
 
he will lead the country via Skype. I remember laira odinga warned voters but they did not listen...
 
won't be surprised if he becomes the real president if UK is to be withhold there just like Charles Taylor and Milosevic :A S 109:
 
This is bullshit!, We Africans, if we can not unite even on this then Those ----in Western leaders will continue to oppress the African leaders basing on poor evidence, however if its true that he has committed that warcrime, he deserve to stand behind the bar when George Bush Jr would have been there, and if its not like that, then the guy should be back home, Harambee is waiting for him....
 
Geza Ulole said:
won't be surprised if he becomes the real president if UK is to be withhold there just like Charles Taylor and Milosevic :A S 109:
Click to expand...

The most important thing is, there is no vacuum, we have a president right now.
 
Very good. So Kenyan Presidency has never been, is not and will never be on trial at the ICC. Well done Mr. Kenyatta.
 
Nenda mheshimiwa urudi salama hakuna lolote wewe ndio simba wa kenya kama jaluo anataka ajuwe hapati hiyo kiti alianza kutamani baba yake mavi ya kuku
 
Huyu Rais wa Kenya kweli ni shujaa. Wakenya hamna budi ya kujivunia Rais huyu shujaa na mzalendo wa nchi yake. Kenyans kuweni bega kwa bega na huyo Mh. Rais Kenyata.
 
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