Kenyatta becomes 1st president to appear before ICC

Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta has became the first sitting president to appear before the International Criminal Court where he has been charged with crimes against humanity.
 

Kenyatta, who handed power to his deputy before flying to The Hague, was summoned to answer questions about his floundering trial for allegedly masterminding post-election violence in 2007-2008.
 

Wearing a charcoal suit and blue tie, a relaxed-looking Kenyatta spoke with his lawyer before the start of the "status conference".
 

ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, who has alleged witness intimidation and that Nairobi is withholding evidence, was also present.
 

"The case is at a critical juncture, which is why I deemed appropriate to be here in person," she said.
 

Many Kenyatta supporters and Kenyan MPs were in the packed public gallery, with some frustrated at not being allowed access.
 

true
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta (C) arrives at the International Criminal Court, where he is to become the first sitting president to appear, on October 8, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ANP / BART MAAT

Arriving at ICC

There were chaotic scenes as Kenyatta, wearing a charcoal suit and white shirt, fought his way into the heavily-guarded ICC without addressing his supporters or the press.
 

The powerful east African leader is to be heard after judges said the case against him was at a "critical juncture".
 

The "status conference" hearing was called following the prosecution's claims that the Kenyan government was withholding evidence against Kenyatta -- claims rejected by the defence.
 

The repeatedly-delayed case has seen at least seven prosecution witnesses drop out, allegedly through bribes and intimidation.
 

Judges could decide to send the case to trial or to abandon it after the prosecution said it did not have enough evidence.
 

A handful of demonstrators sang and danced outside the ICC ahead of his arrival, many of them dressed in Kenyan colours and carrying banners in support of Kenyatta.
 

One large banner read: "Hands off our prez, he is innocent."
 

"We had to come today because of course he is innocent, he never participated in any killings," said Paul Kobia from Nairobi, 46.

Related Stories
 

IGAD asks ICC to postpone Uhuru Kenyatta's trial

DP applauds Uhuru Kenyatta

I will go to ICC - Uhuru