NAIROBI — Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto flew out of the country yesterday morning to attend his trial at The Hague.
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Ruto, who is facing charges relating to the 2007/2008 post-election violence, departed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at about 8:30am aboard a Dutch airline.
High-ranking government officials including Cabinet secretaries Najib Balala (Mining), Felix Kosgey (Agriculture), Michael Kamau (Transport), Kazungu Kambi (Labour) and Sports’ Dr Ali Wario, were at the airport to see him off.
Also present was Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago and a host of MPs. Uasin Gishu is Ruto’s home county.
Upon his arrival at the airport, Ruto evaded cameras and went straight into the VIP Lounge where the Cabinet members were waiting for him.
Journalists who were waiting had a difficult time accessing him and it took the intervention of Ruto’s private handlers for him to appear in public.
And as he walked out of the lounge, the Deputy President looked troubled.
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“Gentlemen, take care of this great nation” was all he said before returning to the lounge.
Later, he waved as he boarded the airline.
Majority leaders Aden Duale (National Assembly) and Kindiki Kithure (Senate) were among those who accompanied Ruto to The Hague.
Ruto’s trial will start just days after MPs voted to abandon the court in a world first.
His co-accused Joshua Sang is already in The Hague after flying there over the weekend.
Ruto, 46, on Sunday prayed in church alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta who is also accused of organising a campaign of murder, rape, persecution and deportation. Kenyatta’s International Criminal Court (ICC) trial begins on November 12.
However, the President has since ruled out any possibility of both leaders being away from Kenya at the same time.
“We will work with ICC, and we have always promised to do this,” Kenyatta told a rally of supporters in Ruiru, Kiambu County.
“But the ICC must understand that Kenya has a constitution, and Ruto and myself won’t be away at the same time.”
