President Kenyatta is not an ICC fugitive

President Kenyatta is not an ICC fugitive
By Greta Barbone, Daily Monitor (Uganda), 10 May 2013

On May 6, recently-elected Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta arrived in London for a three-day visit. The purpose of his trip was to attend a conference co-hosted by the UK and Somali governments to rally international support for the rebuilding of Somalia. This was the first trip out of African soil since his election last March.

While Kenya’s strategic role in supporting Somali transition is undeniable, many are claiming that the UK’s invitation to participate in a meeting in the presence of many States parties of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is, instead, a betrayal of that court. The reason? President Kenyatta is charged before the ICC with crimes against humanity for his alleged involvement in the 2007-2008 Kenyan post-election violence.
So, the reasoning goes, to meet publicly with an ICC-indictee betrays the very ideals the ICC was established to promote, including an end to impunity and redress and dignity for victims. Is that really the case, though? Is President Kenyatta’s participation in the conference alongside ICC States parties really a betrayal of the court?

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