Botswana’s Foreign Minister Phandu Skelemani has apologized for saying that Kenya’s newly elected president would be banned from the southern African nation if he refuses to co-operate with the Ingernational Criminal Court (ICC).

Skelemani made the apology after the Kenyan government accused him of being contemptuous towards Uhuru Kenyatta.

“I apologize to the Kenyan people for my earlier statement and wish to maintain that Kenya and Botswana have always worked together and nothing will change that,” he said, in a statement published in the Kenyan media.

The International Criminal Court has charged Mr. Kenyatta with crimes against humanity.He denies the charges  is due to stand trial in July, with the charges stemming from allegations that he helped orchestrate violence that erupted after the 2007 election.

Uhuru Kenyatta

Earlier last  week, his lawyer, Steven Kay, called on the ICC to drop the case, saying the evidence against him was “utterly flawed”.

Kenyatta won the 4th March poll with an outright majority garnering 50.07% of the vote compared to his rival Raila Odinga’s 43.31%.
Analysts say the ICC case bolstered Mr. Kenyatta’s electoral chances, as voters saw it as interference in Kenya’s domestic affairs.

By UP