ICC: Kenya's Ruto Must Attend Trial

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2013-10-25

The International Criminal Court has ruled that Kenyan Vice President William Ruto must attend his trial on charges of crimes against humanity.

The Hague-based tribunal's Friday ruling overturned a decision earlier this year that would have allowed Ruto to miss most of the trial, which began in September, so he can attend to official duties.

It is not clear if the decision will also affect the case against President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is set to stand trial at the Hague in less than three weeks on similar charges. The ICC ruled earlier this month that Kenyatta would only have to attend key parts of the trial.

Both men say attending the trials would distract them from governing, especially in the aftermath of last month's terrorist attack on a Nairobi shopping mall that killed 67 people.

Kenyatta and Ruto have both pleaded not guilty but have agreed to cooperate with the court. The Kenyan government has asked the U.N. Security Council to call for a 12-month delay in the trials.

The men are charged with crimes against humanity for their alleged roles in 2007 post-election violence that killed more than 1,100 people.

Despite the charges, Kenyatta won a first-round victory in Kenya's elections this March with Ruto as his running mate.

Source: Voice of America

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