The courtroom was packed at the International Criminal Court. Eight defence lawyers, three prosecutors and three of the 'Ocampo six' suspects. Dressed in grey suits, the three Kenyans were hearing charges in connection to the country’s post-election violence in 2007-2008.

Outside the court, some 40 Kenyan members of the national parliament were singing and chanting prayers. They came to The Hague to protest against the proceedings. In the dock were suspended government ministers William Ruto and Henry Kosgey and radio executive Joshua Arap Sang. The ICC had summoned them to The Hague to hear charges of crimes against humanity, including murder, forcible transfer and persecution.

They came voluntarily, so there were no police guarding them. It was their first appearance before the bench and they politely introduced themselves. Presiding judge Ekaterina Trendafilova asked the trio whether they have been sufficiently informed of the allegations and their rights.

Mutella
The three suspects, who all seemed quite nervous, were sitting opposite to Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo and his deputy Fatou Bensouda. Sang, who was wearing a mutella because he was injured over the weekend, introduced himself as an “innocent journalist working at Kass FM.”

Ruto, wearing a dark grey suit and red tie, said he had been “sufficiently informed of these allegations.” He visited the court last year he said, to ascertain the issues that are being raised and alleged against me."

He went on to say that the specific charges, however, were still unclear to him. "I was unsuccessful in getting details of these allegations against me.”

Two public galleries were packed with Kenyan officials, most against the proceedings being held in The Hague rather than Nairobi. Laughter echoed through the gallery as Ruto said the allegations ”could only be posed in a movie." Later he added that for "an innocent person like me to be dragged all the way here is a matter that puzzles me."

Facebook support
The ICC has summonsed a total of six top political and government officials to appear in court over two days this week in connection with the country’s post-election violence.

On Friday, deputy prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta, head of civil service Francis Muthaura, former police chief Hussein Ali, Eldoret North MP (and sacked education minister) will also appear before the ICC judges.

There is wide support for the six in Kenya. The Ocampo Six Facebook page, with over 1,300 fans, mainly lists messages of support. ‘May justice prevail’ is the most common wish, with one person asking the Ocampo Six to ‘book a return ticket rather than a one way ticket, just in case’.

[video]