Nairobi - Kenya's High Court on Friday cleared the way for Uhuru Kenyatta to run in March's presidential election, dismissing arguments that his looming trial on charges of crimes against humanity made him ineligible.
Kenyatta, a former finance minister and the son of the country's founding president, is one of four accused at the International Criminal Court of orchestrating tribal fighting that killed 1 200 people after the last vote in 2007.
He is running a close second to Prime Minister Raila Odinga according to opinion polls ahead of the March 4 election.
If Kenyatta wins, his first foreign trip as president could be to appear in the dock at the court in the Hague, at a hearing scheduled for April.
The High Court also cleared the way for his running mate William Ruto to stand in the vote, as part of their Jubilee coalition. Ruto is also facing charges at the ICC over the 2007 violence. Both men deny the charges.
“Our march towards forming a Jubilee government is still on course. Thank you for all your support and prayers this far. God is Great!,” Kenyatta said on his Twitter feed.
The High Court ruled it did not have jurisdiction over the matter. - Reuters