Uhuru must ignore these hangers-on and face judges at The Hague

Nairobi; Kenya: Everyone knows that President Uhuru Kenyatta has been summoned —ordered — to appear before the International Criminal Court in person on October 8, 2014. He’s required to attend a “status conference” at a “critical juncture of the proceedings and the matters to be considered.” That’s legalese for this — you must show up, answer questions directly, and appreciate the gravity of the matter.

Ordinarily, the accused isn’t required to be physically present during a “status conference.” But there’s nothing ordinary about Mr Kenyatta’s case on charges for crimes against humanity. He was Mr Kenyatta when he was charged, but he’s now President Kenyatta. That’s the rub —he’s not charged as President but as Mr Kenyatta. How does he divorce the two?