Press Release: 31 March 2014

Kenyatta case: Trial adjourned until 7 October 2014

ICC-CPI-20140331-PR991

​Situation: The Republic of Kenya
Case:The Prosecutor v. Uhuru Muigai Kenyata

Today, on 31 March 2014, Trial Chamber V(b) of the International Criminal Court (ICC) adjourned the commencement date of the trial in the case against Uhuru Kenyatta to 7 October 2014. The purpose of the adjournment is to provide the Government of Kenya with a further, time-limited opportunity to provide certain records, which the Prosecution had previously requested on the basis that the records are relevant to a central allegation to the case.

In so doing, the Chamber rejected the Defence request to terminate the proceedings in this case as well as the Prosecution request to suspend the proceedings indefinitely, pending compliance by the Kenyan Government with its cooperation obligations.

The Chamber directed the Prosecutor to submit, within two weeks, to the Kenyan authorities a revised request to produce financial and other records relating to Mr Kenyatta. The Chamber also directed the Prosecution and the Kenyan Government to engage in cooperation and consultations without delay in relation to the revised request. A status conference is scheduled on 9 July 2014 in order for the Prosecution and the Kenyan Government to provide an update to the Chamber on the status of the execution of this request.

Background: Mr Kenyatta is charged, as an indirect co-perpetrator, with five counts of crimes against humanity consisting of murder, deportation or forcible transfer, rape, persecution and other inhumane acts allegedly committed during the post-election violence in Kenya in 2007-2008. Charges were confirmed on 23 January 2012, and the case was committed to trial before Trial Chamber V(b).

Further information on this case is available here.

Decision on Prosecution’s applications for a finding of non-compliance pursuant to Article 87(7) and for an adjournment of the provisional trial date

Questions and Answers on the decision dated 31 March 2014 re-scheduling the Kenyatta trial commencement date: PDF

Video (YouTube)

Video (for downloading)

Audio (mp3)


For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: [email protected].

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