Deputy President William Ruto leaves for International Criminal Court trial
Deputy President William Ruto (centre) with leader of majority, Senate Kithure Kindiki (left), Mining Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala and Aden Duale at JKIA as he leaves for The Hague on September 09 2013. PHOTO/WILLIAM OERI
What you need to know:
- High ranking government officials including Cabinet Secretaries were at the Airport to see him off
- Ruto's trial at the ICC begins on Tuesday
NAIROBI
Deputy President William Ruto flew out of the country Monday morning to attend his trial at The Hague.
Mr Ruto, who is facing charges relating to the 2007/2008 post-election violence, departed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at about 8.30am Monday aboard a Dutch airline.
High ranking government officials including Cabinet Secretaries Najib Balala (Mining), Felix Kosgey (Agriculture), Michael Kamau (Transport), Kazungu Kambi (Labour) and Sports’ Dr Ali Wario were at the Airport to see him off.
Also present was Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago and a host of MPs. Uasin Gishu is Mr Ruto’s home county.
Upon his arrival at the airport, Mr Ruto evaded cameras and went straight into the VIP Lounge where the cabinet members were waiting for him.
Journalists who were waiting had a difficult time accessing him and it took the intervention of Mr Ruto’s private handlers for him to appear in public.
And as he walked out of the lounge, the Deputy President looked troubled.
“Gentlemen, take care of this great nation” was all he said before returning to the lounge.
Later, he waved as he boarded the airline.
Majority leaders Aden Duale (National Assembly) and Kindiki Kithure (Senate) were among those who accompanied Mr Ruto to The Hague.
Mr Ruto's trial will start just days after MPs voted to abandon the court in a world first.
His co-accused Mr Joshua Sang is already in The Hague after flying there over the weekend.
Mr Ruto, 46, on Sunday prayed in church alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta who is also accused of organising a campaign of murder, rape, persecution and deportation. Mr Kenyatta’s ICC trial begins on November 12.
However, the President has since ruled out any possibility of both leaders being away from Kenya at the same time.
"We will work with ICC, and we have always promised to do this," Kenyatta told a rally of supporters in Ruiru, Kiambu County. "But the ICC must understand that Kenya has a constitution, and Ruto and myself won't be away at the same time."
