The International Criminal Court’s trial chamber has ordered President Uhuru Kenyatta to appear before it in person on October 8 at a status conference.
The judges rejected President Kenyatta’s request to appear via video link.
President Kenyatta has been summoned to discuss the status of cooperation between the prosecution and the Kenyan Government.
He had requested the trial chamber to excuse him from attending the status conference and instead be allowed to follow the proceedings via video link.
He had also requested Trial Chamber V (B) to reschedule the status conference to a date after October 9.
The change of date, his lawyers said, would allow him to attend the East African Community (EAC) Northern Corridor Infrastructure Summit in Kampala, Uganda, on October 8 and Uganda’s independence day on October 9.
“In his capacity as president of Kenya and also chairman of the Heads of State of the East African Community, Mr Kenyatta is due to attend the Northern Corridor Infrastructure Summit. This meeting is attended by the regional heads of State and is of great importance and significance,” defence lawyers Steven Kay and Gillian Higgins said.
The defence lawyers argued that the the EAC meeting was arranged before the judges requested him to appear at the status conference.
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