Uhuru Kenyatta free to run after Kenya election ruling

Kenya's deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta - accused of crimes against humanity - can stand in next month's election, after a court declined to bar him.

The High Court refused to rule in a case brought by campaign groups seeking to exclude him from the 4 March poll.

Mr Kenyatta and Prime Minister Raila Odinga are seen as the favourites.

Mr Kenyatta and his running mate William Ruto deny the charges brought against them in The Hague.

They are due to go on trial in April at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with the violence that followed disputed elections in 2007.

Mr Kenyatta, the son of Kenya's founding president, faces five charges of crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, persecution, deportation and other inhumane acts.

Mr Ruto faces three charges of crimes against humanity.

Mr Kenyatta insisted during the debate that he and his running mate were innocent and would defend themselves vigorously.

The case would not prevent him from discharging his presidential duties, if he was elected, he said.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission, the Kenyan branch of the International Commission for Jurists, and the International Centre for Policy and Conflict have all argued that any person committed to trial at the ICC would not be able to carry out their duties of running the country properly.