{UAH} Pojim/WBK: I'm excited by this news, Uhuru says after Bensouda withdraws case against him - News - nation.co.ke
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014
I'm excited by this news, Uhuru says after Bensouda withdraws case against him
President Uhuru Kenyatta. He said he was excited to learn that ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda had withdrawn criminal charges against him. He said that the government was working to ensure that the PEV victims ultimately get justice in Kenya. PHOTO | SALTON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
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President Uhuru Kenyatta Friday said he was relieved to learn that ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda had withdrawn criminal charges against him.
President Kenyatta's reaction came moments after Ms Bensouda announced her withdrawal of the case, two days after judges of Trial Chamber V (B) gave her seven days to withdraw the case if she did not have enough evidence to go to trial.
The President said the withdrawal was long overdue.
"I am excited by this news, which I have awaited (for) ever since the day my name was announced to the world in connection with the case.
"I am also deeply relieved by this decision, which is overdue by 6 years," said President Kenyatta.
He reiterated that he was innocent of the charges levelled against him.
"I have repeatedly declared my innocence to the people of Kenya and (to) the whole world.
"I repeat this even now: as relates the incidents comprising the Kenyan cases at the ICC, my conscience is absolutely clear," he said.
KENYAN CASES RUSHED
He said that the Kenyan cases were rushed and lacked proper investigation or preparation adding that there was a strong interest to stigmatise (the) accused persons.
He said that the ICC was expected to dispense justice with integrity and without undue considerations adding that there the way the case was handled undermined the principles of justice.
"For the Prosecutor to sustain an obviously deficient case for so long demonstrates beyond doubt the intensity of pressure exerted by improper interests to pollute and undermine the philosophy of international justice," President Kenyatta said in his statement.
He said the 2007-2008 post-election violence victims would not get satisfaction from the ICC due to what he termed as the "Prosecutor's decision to compromise a quest for justice in favour of political considerations."
"Just as the ICC failed me, it has also failed the victims of the 2007-2008 post-election violence.
"They were killed, maimed, displaced, dispossessed and utterly traumatised. I have been victimised, libelled and senselessly profiled by the same defective process," said the President.
VICTIMS TO GET JUSTICE
He said that the government was working to ensure that the PEV victims ultimately get justice in Kenya.
"The world may have failed them, but they will not be let down at home," reiterated President Kenyatta.
The President, at the same time, expressed his solidarity with Deputy President William Ruto and Joshua arap Sang, who are facing similar cases at The Hague.
He thanked Africa leaders, who, through the African Union, stood in solidarity with him as he faced the ICC.
The President's reaction came even as the lawyer representing the PEV victims at the ICC Fergal Gaynor termed the withdrawal of the case against President Kenyatta a disappointment.
Mr Gaynor, in a statement issued soon after Ms Bensouda announced her decision to withdraw the case against President Kenyatta, said the victims were still crying for justice.
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