Hague Court Opens Kenyatta Status Hearing

Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, has left his country to attend a hearing on his case at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. 

President Kenyatta flew out of Nairobi on Tuesday, a day before his appearance at the ICC. 

He is facing five charges of crimes against humanity for allegedly helping to organize the deadly post-election violence that hit Kenya in 2008. 

While President Kenyatta is away, his deputy, William Ruto, who has also been similarly charged by the ICC, will act as President. 

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges in a trial that began a year ago. 

President Kenyatta's trial was originally set to begin in February, but was postponed repeatedly as the ICC's prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, said the Kenyan government was not providing key documents her office requested for. 

Meanwhile, an International Relations Expert, Dr Rashid Pelpou has been analyzing the status of the ICC and its role to investigate leaders for crime against humanity. 

Dr Pelpou says although the International Community signed up to this mandate, it is not appropriate for African leaders to be hauled before the ICC for trial. 

He insisted that there is the need for the world to understand what constitutes the International Court of Justice.

Dr Pelpou's comments follow the impending trial of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta by the Court over alleged crimes against humanity.

GBC