Kenyan deputy president appears at the ICC for crimes against humanity

Kenya’s deputy president William Ruto appeared at the International Criminal Court for charges that he allegedly ordered his political supporters to slaughter supporters of an opposing political party.

The resulting violence that left more than 1,000 dead and 600,000 homeless occurred after the 2007 Kenyan elections. “Ruto’s ultimate goal was to seize political power for himself and his party in the event he could not do so via the ballot box,” ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said at the court Tuesday. “It is difficult to imagine the suffering or terror experienced by the men, women and children who were burnt alive, hacked to death or chased from their homes.”

Ruto pleaded not guilty to all the charges, including crimes against humanity.

Watch coverage of the trial via KTN: