William Ruto told to boycott ICC over ruling

Deputy President William Ruto (right), Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and Murang’a Senator Kembi Gitura during a fund-raising event for Joyful Women Organisation in Bomet on August 29, 2015. PHOTO | DPPS 

In Summary

• Leaders criticise international court for permitting use of recanted evidence, say it is unacceptable in legal practice.

By GEORGE SAYAGIE
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By TIMOTHY KEMEI
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Five Jubilee legislators have asked Deputy President William Ruto to boycott hearing of the case against him at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.

The MPs claimed that the court had become political and not judicial.

Murang’a Senator Kembi Gitura, Narok Woman Representative Soipan Tuya and MPs Cecily Mbarire (Runyenjes), Sara Korere (Nominated) and Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete) condemned the court for taking Kenyans in circles after the prosecution was allowed to use statements of five witnesses who recanted their evidence.

They were speaking at Naroosura in Narok North where they had accompanied the DP during a funds drive for women’s groups.

Ms Tuya said that when a statement is recanted, no court can bring it back, adding that it was unacceptable in legal practice.

“I am wondering why ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda wants to be allowed to use recanted statements,” said Ms Kudate.

Mr Waititu told DP Ruto to stop going to The Hague, adding that the government would continue with or without the ICC.

He called on the international court to throw out the case against Mr Ruto and former journalist Joshua Sang for lack of evidence.

PRAYER RALLIES

Mr Ruto stressed the government’s commitment to uplift lives, adding that the 30 per cent procurement provision for women and youth would empower marginalised groups.

“To ensure that more children are enrolled in public schools, the government has increased the free education budgetary allocation by five per cent,” said the deputy president.

Mr Ruto is expected to launch prayer rallies in the aftermath of the recent ICC decision allowing the use of statements of hostile witnesses.

The strategy was arrived at during one of the many meetings Mr Ruto has been holding with his political advisers. An aide of Mr Ruto’s said the rallies will bring together Rift Valley political leaders as well as the clergy. Meanwhile, Mr Ruto’s defence team under Karim Khan has asked the ICC for permission to appeal the decision.

He said the evidence admitted will impact on every aspect of the trial, including the evidence to be addressed in any “no-case-to-answer” motion.

Lawyer Katwa Kigen has also filed a similar request stating the decision “is academic and convoluted, with the result that the ordinary meanings of words and phrases have been twisted to fit Rule 68 criteria as amended.”

Even as the decision on the request remains pending, it is the political manoeuvres that will be closely watched as Mr Ruto’s allies resort to applying political pressure to wriggle him out of the ICC jaws.

'ACCUSED FALSELY'

Separately, the DP’s wife, Mrs Rachel Ruto, has said she is optimistic that her husband will be cleared of the charges against him.

Mrs Ruto thanked Kenyans for their continued prayers over the matter, adding that the DP had been falsely accused.

“Thank you and continue praying for us. It is not an easy thing especially if you know you are being accused falsely,” she said. “Sooner than we know, it is going to be behind us”.

Mrs Ruto said Kenyans know what happened in the 2007-2008 post-election violence that led to the ICC cases.

She said: “We all know what happened that year, we were all there.”

Mrs Ruto was speaking at Sosiot Girls’ Secondary School, Kericho County, where she was the guest of honour during the 25th celebrations of Africa Gospel Church National Women Conference on Friday.

On Saturday, she attended a Faith Evangelist Ministries youth meeting at Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi, where she was hosted by the Rev Teresia Wairimu.

And on Saturday, a URP youth leader in Sigowet/Soin Constituency, Kipsengeret Koros, said efforts by the government to assist Kenyans facing crimes against humanity charges had gone silent.

“It appears that there is a silent agreement that it is everyone for himself. We are now realising that we have no friends. Leaders have gone silent and no one is fighting for Ruto. The silence is so loud it speaks volumes,” he said in Kericho on Saturday.

He wondered why the government has not protested at the ruling or called for a special African Union meeting to discuss the ICC matter.

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi last week led several MPs in expressing support for Mr Ruto in Kericho during which he said the government would do everything “under the sun” to assist Mr Ruto with the ICC case.

Additional reporting by Walter Menya