Witness P-800 a headache for Ruto, Sang teams

Deputy President William Ruto with Tinderet MP Julius Melly outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) on September 2, 2014. Witness P-800 may have enhanced the prospects of ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s getting a conviction against Deputy President William Ruto and former radio presenter Joshua Sang. PHOTO | DPPS 

In Summary

• He could also fuel pursuit of individuals who may have allegedly been involved in witness- tampering as he listed people he said lured him to sign a statement recanting his testimony.
• The witness also said Mr Ruto ordered the uprooting of “white mushrooms” from the Rift Valley. He interpreted this to mean Kikuyus, mostly associated with the Akorino sect whose followers wear white turbans.
• He said the remarks led to the attacks and eviction of Kikuyus.
  

By JOHN NJAGI
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By WALTER MENYA
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Witness P-800 may have enhanced the prospects of International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s getting a conviction against Deputy President William Ruto and former radio presenter Joshua Sang.

Perhaps the prosecution’s most effective witness of the 27 so far, he appeared confident in his portrayal of Mr Ruto and Mr Sang as perpetrators of the 2007/08 post-election violence.

He could also fuel pursuit of individuals who may have allegedly been involved in witness- tampering as he listed people he said lured him to sign a statement recanting his testimony.

ICC has already indicted former journalist Walter Baraza for tampering with witnesses in the case against Mr Ruto. Mr Baraza is fighting extradition in a Kenyan court.

The witness is among those who had deserted the ICC before returning to testify. He said there were disagreements with the court over what he was getting for upkeep. 

EVICTING KIKUYUS
The defence teams frantically tried to dismantle his evidence but he stood his ground — sometimes coming off as blunt — obliging presiding Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji to rephrase defence questions.

He first alluded to the polarised nature of the 2005 constitutional referendum campaigns.

P-800 told the court how ODM Pentagon members concentrated their efforts where the party was popular, rebutting Mr Ruto’s lawyer Shyamala Alagendra’s proposition that the ‘No’ team sought votes from across Kenya.

According to the witness, while ODM members attempted to paint their campaign as national, they were mainly interested in getting the vote of supporters in their strongholds.

The witness also said Mr Ruto ordered the uprooting of “white mushrooms” from the Rift Valley. He interpreted this to mean Kikuyus, mostly associated with the Akorino sect whose followers wear white turbans.

His testimony was interspersed with requests for private or closed session during which the witness discusses sensitive aspects of the testimony, especially those that can identify him to the public.

He said Mr Sang knowingly altered the meaning of Kalenjin sayings and songs to incite hatred against Kikuyus.

CODED LANGUAGE

On cross-examination by Sang’s lawyer Mr Katwa Kigen, P-800 said the journalist would, on his Kass FM, use Kalenjin words translating into “this country is ours” stoking hatred between Kikuyus and Kalenjins.

The witness, a fairly good Kalenjin speaker, went toe-to-toe with Mr Kigen explaining the usage of certain terms.

For instance, he maintained that Sang selectively played the song Kimi Beek Kwenet which translates to “we are in the middle of the sea” to drive his message home.

“My testimony is about the hidden meaning and how that song was used at the time. I have no problem with your translation,” he told the lawyer.

He also said Sang used as pik ab chego phrase translated to “people of milk” to distinguish Kalenjins from other communities. “Mr Sang used words with hidden messages meant only for the Kalenjins and at the same time used clear language where he called for the unity of the community and the country,” the witness said.

He said the remarks led to the attacks and eviction of Kikuyus.