YOUTH assistant minister Kabando wa Kabando yesterday backed the withdrawal of a case against Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto.

The petitioners were challenging the eligibility of the two to vie for the presidency. Kabando said if the court had ruled the two are not fit to vie, the country would have faced "an unprecedented wave of instability".

Uhuru and Ruto have been charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court. Speaking at Giathugu Youth Empowerment Centre where 60 youths graduated, Kabando said the suit was filed by civil society groups.

"The case was filed in bad taste to lock out the two ambitious presidential aspirants," he said. The graduates had completed a ceramics course.