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Clock ticks for the Ocampo Six

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 6 – Three of the Ocampo Six suspects arrived in The Hague on Wednesday morning, some 24 hours to their appearance before war crimes judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Eldoret North MP William Ruto, his Tinderet counterpart Henry Kosgey and Kass FM presenter Joshua arap Sang arrived in Amsterdam at dawn in the company of more than 20 Members of Parliament.

The three were escorted to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Tuesday night by nearly 500 supporters who pensively watched as they entered the departures lounge, as Mr Ruto announced that he had forgiven his political detractors.

"I do not hold a grudge against my political enemies who have schemed to ensure that I undergo the tribulations that I am currently facing," Mr Ruto told reporters immediately before his departure.

Former Police Commissioner Mohammed Hussein Ali is already at The Hague, while Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura left shortly after 6am on Wednesday morning.

Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta was expected to leave the country on Wednesday night.

Mr Ruto, Mr Kosgey and Mr Sang are scheduled to appear at the ICC court on Thursday at 10.30am Kenyan time.

"The hearing is being held in order to verify the identity of the suspects and to ensure that they have been informed of the crimes which they are alleged to have committed as well as of their rights under the Rome Statute -founding treaty of the ICC," said a brief statement posted on the ICC website.
 
Mr Uhuru, Mr Muthaura and Maj Gen Ali will make their initial appearances on Friday at 3.30pm.

"On Friday, at 14:30 (Dutch time, the initial appearance hearing of Francis Kirimi Muthaura, Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and Mohammed Hussein Ali is scheduled to take place before Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Courtroom I," the statement added.

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Government Spokesman Dr Alfred Mutua said that on arrival all government officials would be received by the Kenyan Ambassador to The Hague.

"Private accommodation has been organised for them by the Embassy," he said in a brief statement.

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