Khalwale: President Uhuru Kenyatta's ICC case not a national concern

KAKAMEGA, KENYA: Kakamega County Senator Boni Khalwale on Saturday warned President Uhuru Kenyatta not to use the special sittings he has called for members of the National Assembly and the senate on Monday to discuss his case at the International Criminals Court (ICC).

He also cautioned his fellow legislators planning to travel to The Hague to show solidarity with the President against spending public funds for the same.

"The charge sheet at the ICC does not refer to His Excellency the president, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Kenya but it refer to Uhuru Kenyatta as an individual hence this matter should not be changed to a matter of national concern," said Khalwale.

Khalwale insisted that Uhuru was charged as an individual and not as a Head of State and asked Kenyans to detach this case from the office of the president saying the ICC matter is not a national concern.

"We have seen the deputy president attending court proceedings at the ICC and it has not generated a lot of interest because the case is about an individual and not his office. I am now wondering why people are anxious about this issue of Uhuru Kenyatta appearing at the ICC," he said.

Khalwale asked the president to fulfill his promise to Kenyans saying while campaigning, Uhuru said the case was a personal matter that will not compromise his duties as the president if elected.

"When he was campaigning for the presidency, he promised Kenyans that the case was a personal issue that he will handle as an individual and not as the president. I hope the special meeting will not be a meeting about ICC but welfare of Kenyans," he said.

The president has summoned the national assembly and the senate for a special sitting on Monday though the subject of the sitting to be held has not been specified.