Nairobi , Kenya ( CNN ) -- Three Kenyan political leaders accused of crimes against humanity following the country 's disputed 2007 elections had their first appearance Thursday before the International Criminal Court at The Hague . Another three are scheduled to appear Friday . The court 's top prosecutor , Luis Moreno Ocampo , named the six as suspects in December , claiming they organized violence that left more than 1,000 people dead and displaced hundreds of thousands more . Former Agriculture Minister William Ruto , opposition leader Henry Kosgey and radio journalist Joshua Arap Sang appeared Thursday . Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta , Cabinet Secretary Francis Muthaura , and former national police chief Hussein Ali are set to appear Friday . The two groups of three come from opposite sides of the political dispute in Kenya . Ruto , Kosgey , and Sang face four counts of crimes against humanity : murder ; deportation or forcible transfer of the population ; torture and persecution . The judge set a date for them of September 1 to hear arguments as to whether they should go to trial . Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova quashed their attempts to plead their cases Thursday . When asked whether he understood the allegations , Ruto said he did , but that `` the allegations sound like they came from a movie . '' Trendafilova warned the suspects that they should refrain from political activities relating to the case . `` It has come to our knowledge , '' she said , `` that there are some movements towards triggering the violence in the country by way of some speeches . Such type of action could be seen as an inducement and could constitute a breach of conditions . '' She warned that if the suspects continued in such a vein that the summons could be turned into `` warrants of arrest . '' By late April , the two sides need to meet to start sharing evidence , the judge said . Last month , Kenya challenged the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court , saying its own authorities will investigate and prosecute the cases on Kenyan soil . The Netherlands-based court calls itself , on its website , `` an independent international organization ... established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community . '' Kenya 's disputed presidential election sparked chaos that escalated into ethnic violence pitting supporters of incumbent President Mwai Kibaki against those of challenger Raila Odinga , who was later named prime minister in a power-sharing agreement . Muthaura , Kenyatta and Ali are accused of committing or contributing to the killing , rape and other acts of violence against supporters of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement . Ruto , Sang and Kosgey are accused of being co-perpetrators in the murder , deportation and commission of other offenses against supporters of Kenya 's Party of National Unity . E.J . Hogendoorn of the International Crisis Group said the case is `` a major victory , especially for civil society in Kenya , and it is potentially a significant step to the end of impunity in Kenya . ''
NEW : Three appear before the ICC . NEW : The allegations sound like ' a movie , ' one says . The six are accused of organizing violence that left more than 1,000 dead . The violence pitted supporters of two political parties following a disputed election . Kenya has challenged the jurisdiction of the Netherlands-based court .