President
Uhuru Kenyatta invoking article 147(3) of the constutition appointing
Deputy President William Ruto as acting President while he attends the
ICC status confrence at the Hague.Photo/PSCU
President
Uhuru Kenyatta has said he will not subject the sovereignty of Kenya to
any other jurisdiction on account of his attendance of the ICC Status
Conference.
President Kenyatta made the declaration as he invoked Article 147(3) of the Constitution, and appointed Deputy President William Ruto as Acting President while he attends the status conference at The Hague, in the Netherlands.
“Therefore, let it not be said that I am attending the Status Conference as the President of the Republic of Kenya. Nothing in my position or my deeds as President warrants my being in court,” the President said.
He added: “So, to all those who are concerned that my personal attendance of the Status Conference compromises the sovereignty of our people, or sets a precedent for the attendance of presidents before the court – be reassured, this is not the case.”
The President spoke when he addressed a special joint session of Parliament that was attended by both the National Assembly and Senate Speakers.
President Kenyatta said his decision to attend the status conference at The Hague should not raise confusion and anxiety but instead make Kenyans proud of the democracy they have built, and the law-abiding country Kenya has become.
He added that this is also a time for Kenyans to deliberate together on how to collectively realise the great destiny that beckons.
Calling on the African continent and all people of good will to stand with Kenya, the President urged Kenyans to accept and understand his decision.
“I wish to reiterate here for all that my conscience is clear, has been clear, and will remain forever clear that I am innocent of all the accusations that have been levelled against me,” the President said.
He recalled that the Prosecutor of the ICC has since last December – and as recently as last month – admitted to the judges that “the available evidence is insufficient to prove alleged criminal responsibility beyond reasonable doubt.”
The President emphasized that Kenya’s diplomacy has been driven by the desire for a level playing field, on which all nations and their peoples are equal in respect of their sovereignty.
“This is why Kenya played a crucial leadership role in the negotiations that led to the creation of the ICC through the Rome Statute, as well as in mobilising African states to sign up to it,” the President said.
But given Africa’s experience with the Court, the President said many have since asked why Kenya acted with such enthusiasm.
“It was because we believed then, as we do now, that in an unequal world, only a common set of rules governing international conduct could keep anarchy at bay,” President Kenyatta said.
The push to defend sovereignty is not unique to Kenya or Africa, the President said.
He noted that recently, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom committed to reasserting the sovereign primacy of his parliament over the decisions of the European Human Rights Court and even threatened to quit the court.
The President reminded the world that when he took up the mantle of leadership in April 2013, he and Deputy President William Ruto focused their attention on the rehabilitation and restoration of Kenyans affected by the 2007-8 post-election violence.
“My Government resettled all the remaining registered households that were still in camps,” the President said.
“This in addition to those previously resettled under the Rudi Nyumbani and integrated IDPs initiative where land was availed for resettlement, houses built, counselling offered, cash transfers made, and free medical attention in government facilities provided,” the President added.
He affirmed his commitment to ensuring that Kenyans never again have to endure such tribulations.
After addressing the joint session of Parliament, President Kenyatta proceeded to Harambee House where he signed the order that invoked Article 147 (3) of the Constitution.
President Kenyatta made the declaration as he invoked Article 147(3) of the Constitution, and appointed Deputy President William Ruto as Acting President while he attends the status conference at The Hague, in the Netherlands.
“Therefore, let it not be said that I am attending the Status Conference as the President of the Republic of Kenya. Nothing in my position or my deeds as President warrants my being in court,” the President said.
He added: “So, to all those who are concerned that my personal attendance of the Status Conference compromises the sovereignty of our people, or sets a precedent for the attendance of presidents before the court – be reassured, this is not the case.”
The President spoke when he addressed a special joint session of Parliament that was attended by both the National Assembly and Senate Speakers.
President Kenyatta said his decision to attend the status conference at The Hague should not raise confusion and anxiety but instead make Kenyans proud of the democracy they have built, and the law-abiding country Kenya has become.
He added that this is also a time for Kenyans to deliberate together on how to collectively realise the great destiny that beckons.
Calling on the African continent and all people of good will to stand with Kenya, the President urged Kenyans to accept and understand his decision.
“I wish to reiterate here for all that my conscience is clear, has been clear, and will remain forever clear that I am innocent of all the accusations that have been levelled against me,” the President said.
He recalled that the Prosecutor of the ICC has since last December – and as recently as last month – admitted to the judges that “the available evidence is insufficient to prove alleged criminal responsibility beyond reasonable doubt.”
The President emphasized that Kenya’s diplomacy has been driven by the desire for a level playing field, on which all nations and their peoples are equal in respect of their sovereignty.
“This is why Kenya played a crucial leadership role in the negotiations that led to the creation of the ICC through the Rome Statute, as well as in mobilising African states to sign up to it,” the President said.
But given Africa’s experience with the Court, the President said many have since asked why Kenya acted with such enthusiasm.
“It was because we believed then, as we do now, that in an unequal world, only a common set of rules governing international conduct could keep anarchy at bay,” President Kenyatta said.
The push to defend sovereignty is not unique to Kenya or Africa, the President said.
He noted that recently, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom committed to reasserting the sovereign primacy of his parliament over the decisions of the European Human Rights Court and even threatened to quit the court.
The President reminded the world that when he took up the mantle of leadership in April 2013, he and Deputy President William Ruto focused their attention on the rehabilitation and restoration of Kenyans affected by the 2007-8 post-election violence.
“My Government resettled all the remaining registered households that were still in camps,” the President said.
“This in addition to those previously resettled under the Rudi Nyumbani and integrated IDPs initiative where land was availed for resettlement, houses built, counselling offered, cash transfers made, and free medical attention in government facilities provided,” the President added.
He affirmed his commitment to ensuring that Kenyans never again have to endure such tribulations.
After addressing the joint session of Parliament, President Kenyatta proceeded to Harambee House where he signed the order that invoked Article 147 (3) of the Constitution.
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