The International Criminal Court has ordered four prominent Kenyans to stand trial on charges they helped organize deadly post-election violence in their country four years ago.

The Hague-based court said Monday that there is sufficient evidence to proceed with trials against Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, former education minister William Ruto, Cabinet Secretary Francis Muthaura, and radio executive Joshua Arap Sang.

Both Kenyatta and Ruto have indicated they plan to run for president in Kenya's upcoming elections. Ruto told reporters in Nairobi Monday that he remains in the race.

The court dropped charges against former police chief Mohammed Hussein Ali and former industrialization minister Henry Kosgey. In both cases, judges cited a lack of evidence to support accusations made by prosecutors.

Kenya exploded in ethnic violence after the disputed 2007 presidential election. The violence killed about 1,300 people and displaced more than 300,000 others.

Critics accused incumbent President Mwai Kibaki of stealing the election from opposition leader Raila Odinga through fraud. The two leaders later agreed to form Kenya's current power-sharing government.

Kenya's next elections are scheduled to take place no later than March of next year.

In reading out the ICC's decision Monday, Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova said the court hopes that its actions will bring peace to Kenya and prevent any sort of hostility.