UN Security Council to Hear Kenya Case

{{The UN Security Council is likely to hear Kenya’s request for termination of ICC cases against the country’s two top leaders soon, Kenya’s envoy to UN has said.}}

Kenya expects to present its arguments while Togo holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council this month, ambassador Macharia Kamau told media.

He said Togo could invite Kenya to speak to the council as early as this week.

Kenya’s aim in making such a presentation will be more to explain the contents of a 13-page letter recently sent to the council than to pursue a specific outcome, Mr Kamau noted.

The strongly worded letter urged the UN’s highest decision-making body to act to end the ICC proceedings against President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto.

Kenya’s request is viewed sympathetically by at least five of the council’s 15 members. Rwanda’s representative spoke in support of Kenya during a recent public session of the council, while Morocco, Pakistan, China and Russia are understood to be inclined toward Nairobi’s position.

China and Russia are among the council’s five permanent members. The other three — France, the UK and the US — are thought to regard Kenya’s arguments unfavourably.

It is thus highly unlikely that the Security Council would accede to Kenya’s request and intervene to halt the cases.

{NMG}