Mr Ruto said depending on the outcome of tomorrow’s election Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta might be elected to form the next Government.
He has appealed to Trial Chamber V Judges to balance between his would be roles and his duties to the court if Jubilee wins elections.
“Depending on the outcome of Monday’s elections, or their subsequent ‘run-off’, Mr Ruto may become the Deputy President of Kenya,” the application reads in part.
“It is reasonable to seek to have some balance between such obligations and his duties to this court, duties that it is important to note he has consistently observed and will continue to do so,” he adds in the joint application with radio journalist Joshua arap Sang.
On February 14, Uhuru and Ruto attended a Status Conference at The Hague via video link from the United Nations offices in Nairobi.
During the conference, their defence counsels asked the judges to allow the two attend their trials through video link.
However, the three-Judge bench led by Presiding Judge Kuniko Ozaki ordered the suspects file full written submissions including the legal basis and practical modalities of attending the trials through video link.
In his application dated February 28, Ruto maintained it would be reasonable for the court to take a flexible view involving officials or politicians in high office whose absence from their duties is likely to pose challenges.
Giving the example of Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, Ruto said the case could present a similar problem, should Bashir ever submit himself to the court.
“Both Mr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta have held and/or seek to hold high public office.
Uhuru also argued his presence at the trial via video link satisfies the requirements of the Rome Statute.
- The Standard
