ICC-indicted Kenyatta to make official visit to London

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta speaks moments after being sworn in on April 9, 2013 in Nairobi. By Simon Maina (AFP/File)

NAIROBI (AFP) - Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who faces international trial for crimes against humanity, will travel to London on Sunday for a three-day official visit, the presidency said.

Kenyatta, who will be making his first trip outside Africa as leader, will attend a conference on Somalia in London on Tuesday, but will "also hold bilateral meetings" with British Prime Minister David Cameron, an official Kenyan statement read.

Kenyatta, voted into power in March 4 elections, is to go on trial in July at The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity related to post-election violence in 2007-2008.

London, like the rest of the European Union and other Western powers, has a policy of only "essential contact" with anyone charged by the ICC.

A British government source said the invitation to Kenyatta still counted as essential contact.

Britain's high commissioner to Kenya, Christian Turner, last week delivered a letter of invitation to Kenyatta to the conference, which will be co-hosted by Cameron and Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

"Kenya plays a vital role on Somalia, having nearly 5,000 troops in Somalia, and hosting more Somali refugees than any other nation," the British high commission said in a statement.

The pair also "discussed how the two countries would work together not only on the shared agendas of regional security and stability, but also prosperity and development."

Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, who also faces trial at the ICC, have both said they will cooperate fully with the court. They deny the charges against them.