Family, legislators brave foul weather to support President in Netherlands

President Uhuru Kenyatta arrived at the Netherlands Schiphol airport last evening ahead of today's status conference at The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC).

Earlier yesterday morning, Uhuru, who had on Monday transferred presidential powers to his deputy William Ruto to assume the title acting President, arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at around 8am in a convoy of five vehicles with private registration numbers.

He was accompanied by three body guards, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and daughter Ngina Kenyatta.

Uhuru wore jeans, a polo shirt, loafers, a blazer and a cap. He could easily have passed for any civilian at the business first-class terminal of the Kenya Airways flight which was his chosen mode of travel to the Netherlands.

Both political leaders and citizens braved the morning showers to bid the President farewell.

Some of the notable faces at the airport included Cabinet Secretaries Phyllis Kandie (East African Affairs), Michael Kamau (Transport), senators Charles Keter (Kericho), Mike Sonko (Nairobi), MPs Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Kanini Kega (Kieni), Naomi Shaban (Taita-Taveta) and National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi.

A woman we found at the airport at around 6.30am awaiting the arrival of the President had travelled all night from Taita-Taveta to bid Uhuru goodbye.

"I left Taita at 11pm last night and arrived in Nairobi at 4am. I have been waiting for the President since then. I am just here to wish him a safe trip and I am praying that they will drop his case so that he can come back and continue with his presidential duties. I will travel back to Taita as soon as he leaves," explained Rose Kitava.

POLITICAL PARTY

Ms Kitava was in a red dress with the logo of The National Alliance, a political party headed by the President, a red afro wig and a scarf that resembled the Kenyan flag.

In The Hague, MPs and members of county assemblies gave yesterday's status conference between the Government of Kenya and the prosecution a wide berth.

Despite around 50 of them arriving yesterday morning, only a few turned up at the conference.

Starehe MP Maina Kamanda represented legislators at the conference although he arrived late.

"Most of my colleagues are resting. They have just arrived. Many more are coming today and we expect the court to be full to capacity tomorrow," he explained.

President Kenyatta's family members George Muhoho and Christine Kenyatta, Ugandan anti-ICC crusader David Matsanga, Kenya's ambassador to Netherlands Makena Muchiri and Kenya Human Rights Commission's Esther Waweru attended the hearings at the public gallery.

Outside the court and after the conference ended, Kenyans and the Ugandan jammed the main entrance of the court as they waited to congratulate Attorney General Githu Muigai for, in Kamanda's terms, "excellent performance inside the courtroom".

Guards manning the entrance asked Kenyans to give way at the gate as they converged near the entrance to escape the windy Hague weather.

"I know the weather is terrible but I would appreciate if you kept this place clear," a guard requested. He came back again: "One more thing, this fence you see over here is electric. And it works!"

Outside the court, the AG, accompanied by Solicitor General Njee Muturi, said the State had done its best to help the court.

"It is clear to every fair-minded person including the media, that we have done our best. The volumes of correspondence available attest to this," Githu said.