President Uhuru Kenyatta has appointed Deputy President William Ruto acting president as he leaves for the ICC Status Conference on Tuesday.
Uhuru told a special sitting of Parliament on Monday that he will not put the sovereignty of Kenya into question by attending the Status Conference at The Hague as a sitting president.
"Let it not be said that I am attending the status conference as the President of Kenya," Uhuru told a shocked parliament.
He said "I chose not to put the sovereignty of more than 40 million Kenyans on trial since their democratic will should not be subject to another jurisdiction."
Uhuru further affirmed his innocence during the address saying "My conscience is clear, has been clear and will remain forever clear for I am innocent of all allegations levelled against me."
The President said that he has not in any way interfered with the investigations by the ICC.
"I was kept in suspense as the Prosecutor engaged with the relevant organs of the government. Whenever the organs of the Government of Kenya required any information in relation to these investigations I gave the information to assist in establishing the truth at all material times." Uhuru said.
He said that the prosecutor failed to properly investigate the matter adding that he was shocked that his case was not immediately dropped after the prosecution admitted lacking sufficient evidence to prove the allegations against him.
Uhuru told parliament that although his attendance is a matter touching on national sovereignty it should not cause anxiety. He said that this is the time for the executive arms of government and the people of Kenya to collectively focus on "realizing the future that beckons us."
Uhuru's address comes a day before the Status conference which begins on Tuesday. Members of the Cord coalition had said they would skip the special parliamentary sitting, but members of both Cord and Jubilee were present for the address.
Uhuru's trial was to commence on Tuesday but this was stopped by ICC judges and a status conference set up instead
ICC judges had rejected a request by Uhuru to attend the conference via video link saying his physical presence is required for the last day of the conference on Wednesday.
The conference is to discuss the status of cooperation between the Prosecution and the Kenyan government.
Fatou Bensouda had asked the court to adjourn Uhuru’s trial indefinitely, accusing the Kenyan government of failing to fully comply with its obligations to the Court. She has said she needed information held by the government to gather enough evidence to take the case to trial.
What the president said:
I'm here to address you on behalf of our people on matters concerning our sovereignty.
Last week I received notices to be present at the ICC. It has caused anxiety. This is not a time for anxiety but a time to be proud of our sovereignty.
Our quest for a greater and better country has borne fruit. We officially became a middle class economy.
Kenya is held in high esteem as a stable hub for regional trade and investment as well as a safe haven for refugees.
We face terror trials with fortitude knowing that it is our generational task to make our country a better place.
After more than two decades of consultation we got a new constitution that demands public service and integrity.
Internationally, our diplomacy has been driven by the desire to be equal.
After the painful conflict that followed the 2007 elections, Kenyans across the country deliberated on what we needed to do to heal.
When I took up leadership in 2013, I took up the mandate to resettle all those still in camps.
I am committed to ensuring that Kenyans never have to endure such tribulations.
I wish to reiterate that my conscious is clear and I am innocent of all the allegations levelled against me.
When the prosecutor admitted that the evidence was not enough to proceed with the case, I expected that the case would be dropped.
I have however not interfered with the protocol of cooperation between Kenya and the ICC.
The powers that Ruto does not have as acting president:
134 (2) (a) the nomination or appointment of the judges of the superior courts;
(b) the nomination or appointment of any other public officer whom this Constitution or legislation requires the President to appoint;
(c) the nomination or appointment or dismissal of Cabinet Secretaries and other State or Public officers;
(d) the nomination or appointment or dismissal of a high commissioner, ambassador, or diplomatic or consular representative;
(e) the power of mercy; and
(f) the authority to confer honours in the name of the people and the Republic.
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-192811/uhuru-appoints-ruto-acting-president-he-will-appear-icc-civilian#sthash.FJ0dbNoo.dpuf
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