Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has become the first sitting leader to appear before the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Kenyatta was in the court chambers Wednesday for a status hearing on the case in which he faces five charges of crimes against humanity for allegedly helping organize deadly post-election violence in 2008.  He says he is innocent.

Prosecutors complained Tuesday that the Kenyan government was blocking access to key documents. Kenya’s Attorney General Githu Muigai countered that the government is doing its best and that the prosecution’s demands were sometimes hard to meet.

Kenyatta temporarily handed over power to his deputy William Ruto while he is out of the country.

The ICC has also charged Ruto with crimes against humanity. On Thursday, the court is due to announce its ruling on a his defense appeal challenging an April ruling that Kenya must serve summonses to witnesses who are not cooperating with the court and help compel them to testify.
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