ICC: Kenyan suspects attend first day of hearings

By Evelyn Kwamboka

Eldoret North MP William Ruto, Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey and radio presenter Joshua Sang arrived at the court few minutes before the hearing started.

The three whose fate lies in the outcome of the hearings to be conducted for a period of nine days, arrived about 30 minutes before the hearing time that was set by the court.

A navy blue Mercedes Benz carrying Ruto and radio presenter Joshua Sang pulled behind a Kenyan Embassy van that was carrying Government officers, MPs and family members.

The vehicle was carrying his wife Rachel, Bureti MP Zachayo Cheruiyot and his Belgut counterpart Charles Keter.

"I am ready for the process. How is home?" Ruto asked a battery of journalists who had camped outside the ICC building for more than four hours.

Dressed in a navy blue suit, the presidential aspirant walked into the building as his wife followed.

Sang who had entered the building rushed outside saying, "Where is honourable Ruto’s wife? She has his passport and it is required."

An official from the embassy ran after her and returned carrying the document to the reception where Ruto and some of his lawyers were waiting.

Kosgey arrived in the company of his son who also acts as his lawyer, moments after the other suspects and their lawyers had gone in.

Sang later addressed journalists and told them his wish was that justice prevails throughout the whole court process.

"I have been on holiday and still on one. At least, I will have time to explain myself before the court. This is not a case that should be brought before this court," he said.

Justice

Outside the court, ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo arrived in a navy blue BMW diplomatic car. He stepped out and walked straight into the building.

Cheruiyot told The Standard that he arrived at The Hague to give his colleagues support, adding that Kenyans expect justice to prevail.

Inside the court, unlike Kenya where most of the judges concentrate on cases before them without inquiring about the suspects’ welfare, Justice Ekaterina Trendafilova took time to find out how the suspects were fairing on.

"I hope your journey was not too tiring and your accommodation at The Hague agreeable," she told the suspects.

Expressing her powers to ensure that suspects and other parties in the court are all well, the judge suggested to Sang to address the court sitting, if he was still unwell.

"I recall you had an accident in April. If you are not fine, you can sit," the judge said. The judge added the court has powers to amend the timetable released few days ago, saying that Saturday schedule could be skipped.

However, the judge said it cannot change the timetable at this stage, since Justice Cuno Tarfusser is handling another matter of equal importance before Pre-Trial Chamber I from September 14, a move that would make it difficult for the chamber to extend the hearing of Ruto’s charges.

"There are two cases running simultaneously and it requires the judge to equally and diligently prepare for the other case," she said.

Judge Trendafilova said the court shares a point made by the defence that the Kenyan case before the ICC is the biggest with a great number of suspects.

The charges were read to the suspects for the second time, since they first came face to face with the judges-Trendafilova, Cuno and Hans-Peter Kaul.