President Kenyatta's Trial Deferred in The Hague

Kenyan President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta won the elections with just over 50 percent of the national vote. With over 50 percent there will not be a run-off., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Kenyatta’s trial deferred

Friday, 21 June 2013 00:00

The Hague. — The International Criminal Court has pushed back the start of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s crimes against humanity trial until November 12.

The court announced the new start date yesterday.

Judges ruled earlier this year that the trial scheduled to begin on July 9 would start at a later date to give defence lawyers time to prepare.

Kenyatta is charged as an “indirect co-perpetrator” with murder, deportation, rape, persecution and inhumane acts allegedly committed by his supporters in the violent aftermath of Kenya’s 2007 elections.
He insists he is innocent of any wrong-doing.

Despite the ICC charges, Kenyatta won the Kenyan presidency at elections this year.
Earlier this month, the court pushed back the start of the trial of Kenya’s deputy president, William Ruto, on similar charges until 10 September.

At its mid-term Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last month, the African Union urged the International Criminal Court to refer back to Kenya the crimes against humanity cases against the country’s top leaders.

The resolution called on the ICC to refer back to Kenya the cases against President Kenyatta and Vice President William Ruto.

Kenyatta and Ruto, elected in March, both face trial in The Hague for their alleged roles in orchestrating deadly violence after previous elections in 2007 that left 1,100 people dead.

— AFP.