President Kenyatta welcomes ICCs decision on the Ruto, Sang case

President Uhuru Kenyatta has expressed delight in ICC’s decision of no-case-to answer against Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang at the ICC.

Kenyatta, who is in France on a three-day State visit, said that Ruto and Sang’s innocence has been vindicated by the decision a moment he termed as long overdue.

In a statement, the Head of State, however, indicated that the victory in this matter is partial and that the quest for justice incomplete as many victims await justice and perpetrators are yet to be brought to account.

“Earlier today, Trial Chamber V (A) of the International Criminal Court acquitted my Deputy President, Honourable William Ruto, and Mr. Joshua Arap Sang. I welcome the aforementioned decision, which reaffirms my strong conviction from the beginning about the innocence of my Deputy President.  From the start of this case, I have believed that this case was ill-conceived and never grounded on the proper examination of our experience of 2007/2008 as a nation,” said the Head of State.

“Over the last six years, my Deputy President, together with a number of other Kenyans, including myself, have endured a painful journey with the ICC. As individuals and as a country, we have cooperated fully with the court, and my Deputy has, at the same time, also borne the heavy responsibilities of leadership, while attending the hearing at the Hague. Today, he has been vindicated.”

“This decision brings to a close what has been a nightmare for my nation. With the conclusion of this case at the ICC, our country is fully back on focus to enhance our efforts towards nation building, promotion peace and security. For my Deputy and I, this focuses us fully on the affairs of running the State, a mandate given to us by the people of Kenya.”

He added: “As we welcome this decision, Kenya together with like-minded nations, will remain seized of the efforts geared towards the pursuit of justice and equitable participation in the international justice system. As a nation, we recognize our duty to, and respect for, international law and institutions. We will, therefore, continue to pursue ways to improve the delivery of international justice, uphold the rule of law and promote a just and fair global order.”

“It is quite unfortunate that the ICC has given Kenyans false hope, and as a result, occasioned much disappointment. We will do everything to make it up for Kenyans where this international institution has failed them,” read part of his statement.

The Head of State said that there will be a thanksgiving service at the Afraha Stadium, Nakuru on Saturday, April, 2016.

President Kenyatta’s message came moments after ICC’s ruling.

In a statement, the ICC declared the proceedings as a mistrial due to what the court termed as “a troubling incidence of witness interference and intolerable political meddling.”

“The charges are hereby vacated and the accused are discharged from the process, without prejudice to the presumption of innocence or the prosecutor’s right re-prosecute the case at a later time.” Read part of the ruling

Post-election victims’ lawyer Wilfred Nderitu has however expressed hope that ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda will appeal today’s decision.