Uhuru, Muthaura and Ali before ICC judges

16:33 Judge Trendafilova calls an end to the proceedings and thanks all involved in the initial appearance of Mr Muthaura, Mr Kenyatta and Major General Ali.

16:31 Major General Ali's lawyer says his client is concerned with the volume of the documents to be made available and takes issue with the prosecutor's comments over possible unrest back in Kenya.

16:29 Mr Muthaura's lawyer says he expects the documents to be ready on April 18.

16:28 Judge Trendafilova says the Chamber will proceed with its work once the time given to Kenya to complete filing its applications on deferral is over.

16:27 Mr Moreno-Ocampo says the Kenya application challenging the admissibility of the cases is behind his reason to withhold documents.

16:25 Mr Muthaura's counsel tells the court that his client would wish that the hearing date remains the same. He says that the prosecutor should have been in an advanced stage of making available material documents.

16:24 Judge Trendafilova says the defence teams should indicate whether they intend to produce documents and call witnesses during the hearing. She says that 10 days should be sufficient for both parties to prepare for the status conference.

16:23 At the conference, Mr Moreno-Ocampo will be required to give an estimate of documents he intends to use, witnesses he will call and their statements during the confirmation hearing, says the judge.

16:21 Judge Trendafilova says a status conference on disclosure will be held on April 18 at 11.30am and tells the suspects that their presence is not required.

16:19 Mr Kenyatta's and Major General Ali's teams want full disclosure from the prosecution.

16:17 Mr Muthaura's lawyer says no objection and "the sooner the better".

16:15 Prosecution raises no objection.

16:13 Judge Trendafilova sets September 21 as the date the confirmation hearing will start taking into consideration international human rights standards, number of suspects and the simultaneously running two cases. But date may be subject to change.

16:11: Judge: You will have adequate time to prepare your defence, undue delay in prosecution if case goes to trial.

16:10 The judge tells them they are innocent until proven guilty, they are free to represent themselves, object and challenge the charges during the confirmation hearing.

16:09 The suspects say they are aware of their rights.

16:08 Major General Ali answers in the affirmative.

16:07 Mr Kenyatta says while he was informed of the charges it was through a press release from the prosecutor's office.

16:06 Mr Muthaura says he was informed.

16: 05 Judge Trendafilova says the Chamber wants to know whether they were informed of the charges they are alleged to have committed.

16:03 Ali: There are reasonable grounds to believe that he contributed to a group of persons committing crimes against humanity consisting of murder, forcible transfer of population, rape, other inhumane acts, persecution in Nakuru, and Naivasha.

16:02 Kenyatta: There are reasonable grounds to believe that he is culpable of committing crimes against humanity consisting of murder, forcible transfer of population, rape, other inhumane acts, persecution in Nakuru, and Naivasha as a direct co-perpetrator.

16:00 Muthaura: There are reasonable grounds to believe that he is culpable of committing crimes against humanity consisting of murder, forcible transfer of population, rape, other inhumane acts, persecution in Nakuru, and Naivasha as a co-perpetrator.

15:59 Mr Muthaura's lead counsel says that his client is committed to "vigorously comply" with conditions set out by the court

15:58 She says that the Chamber will strictly adhere to the subject matter of the hearing: Inform suspects of the charges facing him, their rights and set date of confirmation hearing.

15:57 The judge says Friday's hearing is not a trial, nor a confirmation hearing. No evidence will be collected.

15:55 She says that the Chamber is concerned after seeing articles in Kenyan newspapers referring to re-triggering violence and such actions constitute a breach of conditions in the summonses and may lead to warrants of arrest.

15:52 Judge Trendafilova: Judges expect parties to conduct themselves with decorum and any deviation will not be tolerated. Chamber will not hesitate to implement sanctions.

15:49 Ali: Born in Eldoret and currently CEO Postal Corporation of Kenya.

15:47 Kenyatta: I was born in 1961, Nairobi. Courtesy of people of Gatundu South, I am the MP and courtesy of the duly elected president of Kenya, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance minister.

15:45 The judge is satisfied that Mr Muthaura is proficient in the English language.

15:43 Muthaura: I was born in Mariaine, Meru and currently head of civil service and secretary of Cabinet. Born in 1946.

15:44 Judge Trendafilova introduces the other judges.

15:42 Major General Ali's legal team introduces itself before the court followed by the Registrar.

15:40 Queen's Counsel Kay introduces Mr Kenyatta's defence team.

15: 39 Mr Muthaura's legal team introduces itself.

15:37 Mr Moreno-Ocampo introduces the prosecution team.

15:35 Judge Trendafilova tells the parties to speak slowly so as to allow interpreters to take notes.

15:33 The case is called by the court officer.

15:32 The judge directs the court officer to usher in photographers to take pictures for 90 seconds.

15:30 Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova tells the suspects to stand up and she welcomes them to the Chamber. She does the same to the prosecutor, defence team and Registrar.

15:29 The hearing is about to start.

15:23 We are minutes away from the initial appearance of Mr Kenyatta, Mr Muthaura and Major General Ali where they will start by introducing themselves before the court.

15:19 On April 18, the court will hold a status conference where Mr Moreno-Ocampo is expected to disclose the evidence he intends to rely on in arguing his case against the Ocampo Six.

15:13 Some of their colleagues speaking in Nairobi Thursday evening said the handling of Mr Ruto, Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang by the court was "professional".

15:08 A number of Kenya MPs and a host of sympathisers are at The Hague to ostensibly show solidarity with the Ocampo Six.

15:04 The Chamber also set September 1 as the date when for the start of confirmation hearing on the case against Ruto, Kosgey and Sang'. The suspects will know whether they will stand trial for crimes against humanity.

15:00 On Thursday, presiding judge Ekaterina Trendafilova warned the suspects that the court may substitute the summonses to appear with warrants of arrests if the suspects engage in inciting speech.

14: 56 As three of the Ocampo Six wait to face the ICC, their allies are planning a "prayer and thanksgiving" rally on Monday at Uhuru Park, Nairobi to welcome them back home.

14:53 Mr Muthaura will be the first to be informed of the charges he is alleged to have committed, followed by Mr Kenyatta and then former police boss Ali.

14: 50 The suspects will be informed of the charges facing them and asked if they are aware of their rights.

14: 48 Major General Hussein Ali has also arrives at the ICC, the Nation's News Editor Eric Shimoli reports from The Hague.

14: 46 The prosecutor wants the three to be appearing in person before the Chamber at least once every six months. They should also submit complete financial information.

The three should not make any public statements that contain or can be construed as containing “an open or veiled threat to actual or prospective witnesses or victims”

14:43 If the judges accede to Mr Moreno-Ocampo's application, a warrant of the arrest will be issued to Mr Kenyatta, Mr Muthaura and Major General Ali if they ignore the conditions.

14: 38 The three suspects' date with court comes days after its prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo requested the Pre-Trial Chamber to issue four new tough conditions.

14:35 MPs led by Eldoret North MP William Ruto in a happy rendition of the song Kenya Nchi Yetu (Kenya Our Country).

14: 34 Mr Kenyatta follows shortly and he too is accompanied by relatives.

14: 32 Mr Muthaura arrives at the ICC building with close family members in tow.

14:30 Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta, head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura and Postmaster General Hussein Ali are due to make their initial appearance at The Hague in an hour's time.