Lawyer Paul Gicheru on Thursday, November 5, said that the government was aware that he left for The Hague.
Through his lawyer, John Khaminwa, Gicheru stated that he had written to the Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua before he left for the country.
Khaminwa stated that Gicheru had contacted him on Thursday indicating that he got permission and used it to process visa application at the Netherlands Embassy for both him and his wife.
“I was not arrested in London or anywhere. I voluntarily purchased a ticket for myself and my wife to travel to Amsterdam. I got permission from the Head of Civil Service to travel out of the country and sort out a personal issue,” Khaminwa, Gicheru’s lawyer quoted him.
Gicheru serves as Chairman of the Export Processing Zones Authority through an appointment made by President Uhuru Kenyatta. He said he could not have left the country without seeking permission following a ban on international travel for all state officers.
Yesterday, the lawyer appeared before a Dutch Magistrate Court for processing. He is expected to formally appear before the pretrial chamber today at 4 pm Hague time.
ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda welcomed the surrender of Paul Gicheru and his transfer to the custody of The Hague-based court.
“I call on the Kenyan authorities to fulfill their obligations under the Rome Statute to ensure the surrender of the remaining two suspects to the custody of the Court, so that their guilt or innocence on the charges against them may be determined in a court of law,” reads the statement.
The prosecutor urged the Government of Kenya to go after Gicheru’s co-accused Philip Kipkoech Bett and Walter Osapiri Barasa.
The three are accused of interfering with the case against Deputy President William Ruto by blackmailing and intimidating witnesses.
Bensouda added that she was grateful for the cooperation of all those who contributed to the successful detention of the lawyer.
Khaminwa has written to the ICC requesting the court not to detain his client due to his health condition.
