Ruto's 'no case to answer' ICC hearing begins
Deputy President William Ruto speaks with former radio journalist Joshua arap Sang outside the International Criminal Court in The Hague on January 20, 2015. FILE PHOTO | DPPS
Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday became the first suspect to be tried in the new International Criminal Court premises in The Hague.
Mr Ruto, who was accompanied by his wife Rachel, was in court for the oral hearings on the "no case to answer" motion that he filed to have the 2007/2008 post-election violence charges against him terminated.
Alongside Mr Ruto inside the courtroom was his co-accused Joshua arap Sang.
Apart from his wife, a number of senior Jubilee figures also travelled to The Hague to support Mr Ruto.
They include recently appointed Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter, governors Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo-Marakwet), Dr Cleophas Lagat (Nandi) and Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu).
The lawmakers who have travelled to The Hague are Kipchumba Murkomen, who is also the Senate deputy majority leader, Mithika Linturi, Oscar Sudi, Lenny Kivuti and Kimani Wamatangi.
The ICC moved to the new permanent premises last December, five years after the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) decided that the ICC should be provided with newly built permanent premises.
Its location on Oude Waalsdorperweg, The Hague, is close to the detention centre and is part of the International Zone of The Hague that also hosts the Peace Palace, Europol, ICTY, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and The Hague World Forum.
