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Bring it on, Uhuru tells the ICC

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 9 – Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta has confirmed he will present himself before judges at International Criminal Court at The Hague on April 7, as directed in a ruling issued on Tuesday night.

Mr Kenyatta said: "I will continue to cooperate unwaveringly with the ICC and to uphold the rule of law."

"I welcome the decision by the Judges to issue a summons for me to appear on the 7th of April 2011. I am grateful that I will finally have the opportunity to be heard and I am entirely confident of my innocence," said the DPM in a statement posted on his Facebook page.

"I also wish to assure all Kenyans that I will comply with those conditions set by the court and will abide by the requirements of the process, both internationally and locally."

Mr Kenyatta added: "It will soon become clear to both Kenyans and the International community that I did not take part in any manner in the violence that occurred after the 2007 General Elections.

He reiterated that he was the first national leader to strongly and publically call for an end to the violence. This, he said, is in the public record.

The ICC judges on Tuesday summoned six Kenyans named by ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo to appear at The Hague on April 7th to show cause why they should not stand trial for their alleged roles in planning the 2008 post election violence which claimed the lives of more than 1,500 people.

Besides the Finance Minister, others required to appear are Head of the Civil Service Ambassador Francis Muthaura, suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto and Tinderet Member of Parliament Henry Kosgey who stepped aside to face charges of abuse of office.

Others are former Police Commissioner Mohammed Hussein Ali and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang of Kass FM.

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"I am confident that in presenting my case before the court, I will be cleared of all allegations in a process which I trust will be fair and free so as to enable both truth and justice to prevail, while revealing the true identity of the perpetrators of the post election violence," asserted Mr Kenyatta.

Meanwhile, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Mutula Kilonzo has described the latest happenings as "an embarrassment to the government."

He said he wanted the Cabinet to meet and adopt a common position on the matter since some of the suspects are still holding government positions.

"If the court has found that international crimes were committed we must find a way of addressing it through law," he said in his short response.

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