Homes burnt as police watched: ICC witness

Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto speaks with broadcaster Joshua Arap Sang ( right) in the courtroom before their trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague a week ago. PHOTO I AFP 

In Summary

• We were surrounded by fire everywhere…they were burning everything.
• The police told us that you have seen how the situation is deteriorating and each of us must

By JEREMIAH KIPLANG'AT
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Police officers took no action as armed Kalenjin youth burned down homes belonging to Kikuyus in Eldoret town, a witness alleged at the International Criminal Court on Friday.

The witness said the six officers, who had been sent to guard displaced persons in Kimumu estate in Eldoret, told about 200 displaced persons at a place called Joyland on the Eldoret-Iten Road that “everyone was after his or her safety.”

Prosecution witness P-0469, who was testifying for the second day, told the court that more than 1,000 people, mostly youth from estates in Eldoret, set houses ablaze as their owners watched helplessly.

Witness: We were surrounded by fire everywhere…they were burning everything.

Prosecution lawyer: Could you explain what you mean by everything? What were they burning?

Witness: They were burning houses belonging to Kikuyus.

Lawyer: Did the police say anything when this happened?

Witness: The police told us that you have seen how the situation is deteriorating and each of us must now be after our own safety.

Lawyer: Do you know who those houses belonged to?

Witness: They belonged to Kikuyus.

Lawyer: Why were the police there?

Witness: They told us they were there to rescue us.

The witness said the IDPs were later taken to Eldoret police station in a lorry.

The witness is testifying against Deputy President William Ruto and Mr Joshua Sang, who are accused of perpetrating the 2007 post-election violence that resulted in more than 1,000 deaths.

Mr Ruto and Mr Sang’s lawyers will cross-examine the witness on Monday.