{The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday (September 30th) rejected a request by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s lawyers to excuse him from a hearing next week, saying the case was at a “critical juncture”.}
“The chamber by majority finds that the requirements of justice in this case necessitate the physical presence of the accused in court,” The Hague-based ICC said according to AFP.
“The chamber considers the status conference to constitute a ‘critical juncture’ in the proceedings,” a three-judge bench added.
Earlier this month judges dropped the October 7th start date of Kenyatta’s crimes against humanity trial after prosecutors asked for an indefinite delay until Nairobi handed over documents they believe could clinch their case.
Judges scheduled a status conference instead for October 8th and summoned Kenyatta to be present.
Kenyatta’s lawyers then asked that he be excused, citing a summit in Kampala, Uganda, scheduled for the same day which Kenyatta had to attend “as President of Kenya and the chairman of the Heads of State of the East African Community”. They added that his trip to Kampala was planned prior to the scheduling of the status conference.
“The chamber does not find merit in the defence’s submission regarding the accused’s engagements being planned prior to the convening of the status conference,” the judges said.
Kenyatta, 52, faces five counts at the ICC over his alleged role in masterminding post-election violence in Kenya in 2007-2008.
It would be Kenyatta’s first appearance in court as president, as he has repeatedly argued that he needed to remain in Kenya to fight al-Shabaab and manage state affairs.
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