simplemind
JF-Expert Member
- Apr 10, 2009
- 16,418
- 9,209
Presidents Jacob Zuma, Paul Kagame and Uhuru Kenyatta.
A number of Presidents and Heads of State from Africa are said to have confirmed they will accompany President Uhuru Kenyatta to The Hague, where he is expected to appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for a status conference of his case.
Those understood to have indicated they would escort Uhuru are about 10, but many more would send their representatives in what is bound to stand out as a strong statement of protest by the African Union against the ICC summons to a Head of State, contrary to what the union had earlier stood against.
Sources from the Dutch embassy in Nairobi and other diplomatic channels hinted to the People Daily that Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda, representing the East African Community, Jacob Zuma (South Africa) and Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn to represent the AU are likely to travel.
Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza was also said to have indicated he would join his colleagues. Others who might accompany President Uhuru, though not yet confirmed, include presidents Yoweri Museveni (Uganda) and Salva Kiir (South Sudan), among others.
Museveni has a national function – the Uganda Independence Day – on October 9, but sources said he could appear in The Hague and fly back. The appearance by African heads in the Dutch capital could to steal the limelight from the status conference that is taking place when the case against Uhuru is greatly weakened by the prosecution's lack of evidence.
Uhuru's appearance in the court would mark the first time a sitting Head of State would be standing in the ICC dock, and the presence of the leaders would post a protest note about how Africa perceives the court.
The Dutch Embassy in Nairobi and authorities in Netherlands were said to be bracing for a diplomatic protocol nightmare that would emerge from handling the leaders, and about 100 Kenyan MPs, who are expected to appear at The Hague on a non-official visit.
The Dutch Embassy, which is normally closed on Friday will open this morning for two hours to process emergency issuance of the high number of visas for MPs and media teams aiming to make the trip.
"Our government back home is already overwhelmed with the many guests coming, including an estimated 30 African leaders and a big delegation of Kenyan leaders," said an embassy source who requested not to be named.
And last evening, ICC urged individuals wishing to attend the status conference to apply early enough to avoid inconveniences. "Please note that given the expected high attendance for these hearings, individuals who have not received a confirmation email in advance cannot be guaranteed access to the hearings," ICC posted on its website.
Names of presidents and MPs likely to accompany President Kenyatta emerged as the President is scheduled to leave the country on Tuesday evening for The Hague.
On arrival in The Hague, the President would be accorded full honours as a Head of State by the Dutch government, but the status would change temporarily once he enters the court where he would be handled like an accused person.
The Kenyan Ambassador to Netherlands would be on hand to escort the President from the airport to the court and to receive him when he walks out.
According to highly placed sources within the Presidency, the decision to attend the Status Conference, which has caused raging debate, was arrived at after his top advisers reasoned that the benefits of attending the status conference outweigh possible consequences of snubbing the court.
Contacted yesterday about the trip, State House head of presidential communication Manoah Esipisu said: "The presidency does not have any comment of the matter at the moment."
Another source from The Hague revealed that the President's legal team were upbeat about the attendance as they feel it would provide them with a perfect opportunity to put a spirited fight for the case to be dismissed for lack of evidence.
Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Kindiki Kithure sent out a text message to MPs willing to accompany the President explaining to them arrangements in place for them to get express Shengen visas this morning.
Read the SMS: "Mheshimiwa, an arrangement has been made for all Members of Parliament who wish to accompany HE the President to the Hague next week, to go to the Netherlands to be at the Embassy tomorrow, between 8.30am and 10am…" Take note also that this is voluntary.
By yesterday, 32 MPs had applied for their visas and are expected to collect them this morning according to Kieni's Kanini Kega and John Njoroge (Kasarani). The others are expected to turn up this morning.
Source: mediamaxnetwork
http://mediamaxnetwork.co.ke/peopledaily/110042/zuma-kagame-uhuru-hague-escort-entourage/
