A Kenyan appeals court upheld a ruling on Tuesday that the government must arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on an international warrant for alleged crimes against humanity, if he sets foot in the East African country.

"We are not convinced the reasons given by the deputy solicitor general are sufficient to grant a stay. The application for interim stay is refused," appeals court justice Emmanuel Okubasu told reporters after dismissing a government appeal.

The decision upheld a Nairobi high court ruling earlier this month that the government must carry out an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Bashir if the Sudanese leader visited Kenya.

The ruling sparked a diplomatic row between Khartoum and Nairobi.