NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 2 – At least four Heads of State from Africa are likely to accompany President Uhuru Kenyatta to The Hague for the status conference in his case at the International Criminal Court next week.
This has been the subject of day-long meetings on Wednesday and Thursday between President Kenyatta’s lawyers and advisors who are weighing the pros and cons of such a move.
Highly placed sources aware of the deliberations say Presidents Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni and Paul Kagame of Rwanda are among leaders prepared to accompany President Kenyatta to Netherlands in a show of solidarity.
Others include senior officials from the African Union as well as more than 100 Members of the National Assembly and Senate.
“All the options are being weighed and the best decision will be arrived at,” the source said.
Capital FM News has learnt that the MPs are racing against time to secure travel documents in preparation for next week’s trip to The Hague where they intend to accompany the President.
Majority Whip in the National Assembly Katoo ole Metito has already sent out text messages to all MPs asking them to confirm their willingness to travel as they prepare to apply for Visa at the Dutch embassy on Friday.
“An arrangement has been made for all MPs who wish to accompany the president to The Hague next week to go to the Netherlands Embassy tomorrow,” a text message sent to MPs by Metito reads in part. “Take note also that this is voluntary and each member travelling will cater for their own expenses.”
Metito wants those willing travel to provide their names to be forwarded to the Dutch embassy to facilitate their visa applications.
The preparation by the MPs is the clearest indication yet that President Kenyatta will be attending the status conference as ordered by the ICC judges.
State House has not given any confirmation if the President is scheduled to travel, but sources say an official statement on the matter will be issued later this week, or at least by Monday.
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