Despite trial, Uhuru’s star rises regionally

President Uhuru Kenyatta. President Uhuru Kenyatta takes a more prominent role in the region Saturday even as the ICC case hangs over him. FILE PHOTO 

In Summary

• Any subsidiary law that is inconsistent with any article of the Rome Statute could be thrown out unless the Assembly of State Parties meets again to amend the supreme law.
• While the Rome Statute remained untouched at the end of the 12th Assembly of State Parties in The Hague, the rights groups said the changes signalled a dangerous political interference with the court.

By LUCAS BARASA
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By Walter Menya
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President Uhuru Kenyatta takes a more prominent role in the region Saturday even as the ICC case hangs over him.

By becoming East African Community chairman, this is seen as a boom to the President’s political clout.

This is significant because it is now clear the International Criminal Court judges would still have the final say on his requirement to attend trial in The Hague.

This is despite the fact that the Assembly of State Parties had amended rules requiring the President and his deputy to be present at the ICC during proceedings.

But despite the amendments to shield senior government officials from attending their trials. The 12th Assembly of State Parties approved those changed but the court judges will still have the last word.

According to the amendments a request not to attend hearings will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The judges will determine if a request to be excused has merit.

Any subsidiary law that is inconsistent with any article of the Rome Statute could be thrown out unless the Assembly of State Parties meets again to amend the supreme law.

Friday, global civil society groups warned that political pressure by Kenya and the AU risked undermining independence of the ICC

.

While the Rome Statute remained untouched at the end of the 12th Assembly of State Parties in The Hague, the rights groups said the changes signalled a dangerous political interference with the court.

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN

“There is a big question mark over the process that led to these new rules. They have been fast-tracked due to a concerted political campaign,” said William Pace, convenor of the Coalition for the ICC

.

“Kenya and other African governments to excuse, defer or exempt heads of governments from prosecution is a serious political threat to the Rome Statute, the court, to victims, to witnesses and to the NGOs that support them. Political attacks on the Court were overcome and we are committed to protecting it from this one.”