Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta became the first head of state to face the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague in Holland after being accused of being behind post-election violence from 2007 to 2008.

On Wednesday, Kenyatta attended the first day of the three-day hearing to determine if his case should proceed to trial. His lawyers, however, said the ICC prosecutors failed to prove the accusations against the Kenyan leader, ABC News relayed.

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Under the previous ICC principle, incumbent heads of state were immune from international prosecution. However, the international statue that made the ICC abolished that principle, The Guardian explained.

Prosecutors accuse Kenyatta of being the mastermind of the killing of 1,200 people after the 2007 election. They also say the Kenyan president committed other crimes against humanity.

Kenyatta, on the other hand, denies orchestrating the wave of post-election violence, according to The Guardian.

There are nine witnesses who are set to testify against Kenyatta and the authorities who conspired to obstruct the case, prosecutors told the court.

Fatou Bensouda, the chief prosecutor of the ICC, say the Kenyan government allegedly withheld evidence and intimidated the witnesses. Bensouda was present at Wednesday's hearing.

"The case is at a critical juncture," Bensouda said.

Kenyatta's lawyers, on the other hand, argue that the prosecutors do not have enough evidence to spur the trial on. Kenyatta also echoed the statement of the defense lawyers after the first hearing.

Before travelling to Holland for the hearing, Kenyatta endorsed presidential powers to William Ruto, his deputy.

Meanwhile, human rights organizations expressed their anxiety over the result of the hearing, saying Kenyans would think criminals will not be punished if Kenyatta's case does not proceed to trial.

Many of Kenyatta's supporters stayed in the public gallery during the hearing because they were not allowed to enter the court.

TagsUhuru Kenyatta, Kenya election violence, ICC, International Criminal Court, landmark hearing