26.01.12 - ICC/KENYA - PROMINENT KENYANS STEP ASIDE AFTER ICC INDICTMENTS

26 January 2012 By

Nairobi, January 26, 2012 (FH) - Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta has resigned as Finance Minister following his indictment by the International Criminal Court, but stays on as Deputy Prime Minister, according to a statement today from the President's office. Head of the civil service and secretary to the cabinet Francis Muthaura has also resigned his position, it said.

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The ICC on Monday confirmed charges of crimes against humanity against both men, along with member of parliament William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang. All four are indicted for their alleged role in 2007-2008 post-electoral violence. Kenyatta and Ruto plan to run in Kenya's next presidential elections in 2013.

There has been strong pressure from the media and elsewhere for the men to resign. "A person facing criminal charges cannot possibly be allowed to remain in office until cleared," Kenyan daily The Nation said in an editorial published yesterday.

Meanwhile, three voters and two civil society organizations have gone to court in an attempt to block Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP Ruto from vying for the presidency in the next elections, The Nation reported today. The petitioners cite Article 6 of the Constitution on leadership and integrity that they say prevents the two from running for a public office.

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