NAIROBI, Kenya, May 14 – Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday personally addressed the judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) assuring them that he will fully cooperate with the court.
Ruto who faces charges of crimes against humanity said that he had similarly cooperated with the Office of the Prosecutor even before confirmation of charges, and will still submit himself to the jurisdiction of the court.
He said that he was fully aware of his civic duties and his obligations to the court and would voluntarily cooperate with the ICC just the same way Kenya voluntarily became a signatory of the Rome Statute.
“At a personal level I will do my best and at an official level as the Deputy President of Kenya, the new administration… popularly elected will cooperate with the court because President (Uhuru) Kenyatta and I believe in the rule of law,” he told the court at a Status Conference in The Hague.
Ruto maintained his innocence insisting that he was “a victim of a syndicate of falsehoods and a conspiracy of lies choreographed by networks against truth and justice.”
Similar sentiments had earlier on Tuesday been expressed by President Kenyatta who assured the international community of his government’s commitment to meet its obligations under laws establishing the ICC.
He told the BBC in an interview that his administration will not go against any of the requirements outlined in The Rome Statute.
“Kenya is a signatory to the Rome Statute and it is my responsibility to ensure that Kenya meets her obligations and I will ensure that it happens,” he said.
“I also have a personal commitment because it is my name and that of my family that is on the carpet and I have every single intention of ensuring that I clear my family name not just for myself but for the future generations that will bear my name.”
At the status conference, Ruto’s defence team as well as that of journalist Joshua arap Sang told the court to give them more time to interrogate new elements of evidence that the prosecution had disclosed late.
The status conference continues on Wednesday but Ruto was expected to fly back to Nairobi on Tuesday night.
