Uhuru Kenyatta Thanks Supporters As He Leaves The Hague For Kenya
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2014 - 00:00
Kenya Star
BY LYDIA MATATA
President Uhuru Kenyatta told a crowd of supporters gathered outside the International Criminal Court at the Hague that it is now time for Kenyans to come together and examine where they have been, where the country is presently and where it is heading.
Kenyatta who was speaking shortly after appearing before ICC judges at a Status Conference on Wednesday said only Kenyans can decide the country’s direction.
He thanked the crowd for coming adding that it is now time for him to head back home and continue developing the country. He is expected to arrive back in the country at 6am.
During the Status Conference on Kenyatta's case at the Hague, the Prosecution told judges that a total of nine witnesses can testify to Kenyatta funding links to the Mungiki. Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s trial lawyers outlined allegations of multiple calls between Kenyatta and Mungiki as well as Members of Parliament said to have participated in the clashes in Naivasha during the 2007/8 Post Election Violence.
"Every reason to believe data from these telephones is still available. If the Kenyan government was genuinely using best efforts to cooperate, it would help us know what is in these records" the Prosecution said.
The Prosecution further urged the court to “mark” the non - cooperation of the Kenyan government stating that the case should be adjourned not withdrawn.
Fergal Gaynor, the Victims Lawyer compared Uhuru Kenyatta to Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir who also has a case at the ICC. Gaynor said Bashir is also the head of a government that does not cooperate with the court.
"This case concerns the obstruction of justice.The actions of the Kenyan goverment from from UN to AU is confirmation that the government of Kenya consistently takes decisions in line with the interests of the accused" Gaynor said
He further said that if the case is terminated it will force victims to pay the price of obstruction of justice.
"Victims are entitled to know who is intimidating witnesses? For what reason?" he added.
Gaynor said that that the mobile telephone data is at the heart of the case. The Victims lawyer said there is one phone number from Kenyatta and there has been no move by the defence to provide more numbers.
"I am not going to supply telephone numbers. I have made this abundantly clear.” Kenyatta’s defence lawyer Steven Kay however retorted.
Kay said he has “drawn a line in the stand” stating that the defence will not provide further evidence.
"When evidence was produced by us to the integrity of key witnesses, we were ignored." Kay said.
He reiterated that the government of Kenya has complied sufficiently with Prosecution’s requests stating that Kenyatta is " entitled to a verdict of not guilty"
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-193132/uhuru-kenyatta-thanks-supporters-he-leaves-hague-kenya#sthash.T5sH6HBA.dpuf
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| Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses supporters after leaving the ICC heading back to East Africa. |
Kenya Star
BY LYDIA MATATA
President Uhuru Kenyatta told a crowd of supporters gathered outside the International Criminal Court at the Hague that it is now time for Kenyans to come together and examine where they have been, where the country is presently and where it is heading.
Kenyatta who was speaking shortly after appearing before ICC judges at a Status Conference on Wednesday said only Kenyans can decide the country’s direction.
He thanked the crowd for coming adding that it is now time for him to head back home and continue developing the country. He is expected to arrive back in the country at 6am.
During the Status Conference on Kenyatta's case at the Hague, the Prosecution told judges that a total of nine witnesses can testify to Kenyatta funding links to the Mungiki. Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s trial lawyers outlined allegations of multiple calls between Kenyatta and Mungiki as well as Members of Parliament said to have participated in the clashes in Naivasha during the 2007/8 Post Election Violence.
"Every reason to believe data from these telephones is still available. If the Kenyan government was genuinely using best efforts to cooperate, it would help us know what is in these records" the Prosecution said.
The Prosecution further urged the court to “mark” the non - cooperation of the Kenyan government stating that the case should be adjourned not withdrawn.
Fergal Gaynor, the Victims Lawyer compared Uhuru Kenyatta to Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir who also has a case at the ICC. Gaynor said Bashir is also the head of a government that does not cooperate with the court.
"This case concerns the obstruction of justice.The actions of the Kenyan goverment from from UN to AU is confirmation that the government of Kenya consistently takes decisions in line with the interests of the accused" Gaynor said
He further said that if the case is terminated it will force victims to pay the price of obstruction of justice.
"Victims are entitled to know who is intimidating witnesses? For what reason?" he added.
Gaynor said that that the mobile telephone data is at the heart of the case. The Victims lawyer said there is one phone number from Kenyatta and there has been no move by the defence to provide more numbers.
"I am not going to supply telephone numbers. I have made this abundantly clear.” Kenyatta’s defence lawyer Steven Kay however retorted.
Kay said he has “drawn a line in the stand” stating that the defence will not provide further evidence.
"When evidence was produced by us to the integrity of key witnesses, we were ignored." Kay said.
He reiterated that the government of Kenya has complied sufficiently with Prosecution’s requests stating that Kenyatta is " entitled to a verdict of not guilty"
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-193132/uhuru-kenyatta-thanks-supporters-he-leaves-hague-kenya#sthash.T5sH6HBA.dpuf
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