Politicians skip DP William Ruto’s case in The Hague

By MWANIKI MUNUHE in The Hague

Deputy President William Ruto arrived at The International Criminal Court (ICC) early Monday as his case resumed.

Ruto is required to be physically present in the courtroom for at least five days.

Ruto arrived at the ICC shortly after 9am in the company of his wife Rachel and Kenya’s ambassador to The Netherlands, Rose Makena.

No politician accompanied Ruto to the courtroom. Similarly, no politician was seen with the Deputy President when he landed at the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam early morning.

Inside the courtroom, Ruto’s wife quietly but keenly followed the proceedings from the public gallery.

PRIVATE SESSION

After the court went into private session following the prosecution’s request, the Deputy President’s wife did not leave the courtroom.

Instead, she sat in the public gallery in the company of her personal assistant and Ms Makena.

Usually, when the court goes into private hearing, anybody seated in the public gallery can see what is happening in the courtroom, but sound is normally disabled.

Also present in the courtroom was Ruto’s legal team headed by Karim Khan, radio journalist Joshua arap Sang and his lawyer Katwa Kigen.