UHURU KENYATTA SURRENDERS PRESIDENCY TO TRAVEL TO THE HAGUE AS AN ORDINARY CITIZEN

President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Nairobi. Deputy President William Ruto yesterday took charge of the country, hours after his boss Uhuru Kenyatta courageously ceded power to travel to The Hague as an ordinary Kenyan.

Mr Ruto was sworn in as acting President and handed the instruments of power—ceremonial sword,  Constitution and presidential standard-- at Harambee House and validated by a notice in the Kenya Gazette. He will act at least two days while the President is away attending the status conference at The Hague which begins today and ends tomorrow.

It was an unprecedented move in the country, all driven by the President’s determination to end his case at The Hague without dragging neither the “sovereignty of Kenya (nor)  40 million Kenyans” with him in the charges against humanity which stemmed from the 2007/8 post election violence (PEV).

President Kenyatta, who had kept the country guessing over whether he will obey the orders issued last Tuesday by the ICC’s Trial Chamber judges used his speech to Parliament to keep his loyalty with Hague, maintained his charm with Western powers, remained faithful to African Union leaders even as he hit back at his political rivals over his case.

Addressing a special sitting of Parliament in the afternoon, he said: “To protect the sovereignty of the Republic of Kenya, I will shortly sign a legal notice appointing Hon William Ruto as acting President  while I attend the status conference.”

He explained that he took the decision to avoid appearing before the ICC Trial Chamber judges as the President of Kenya when he is accused as an individual. He was categorical that he has not used his office to carry out acts that landed him at The Hague.

“Therefore, let it not be said that I am attending the Status Conference as the President of the Republic of Kenya.  Nothing in my position or my deeds as President warrants my being in court,” he said in his 25 minutes speech to the House.

Hitting at his political rivals who had declared that the ICC case was a personal matter, he said:  “So, to all those who are concerned that my personal attendance of the Status Conference compromises the sovereignty of our people, or sets a precedent for the attendance of presidents before the court – be reassured, this is not the case.”