Woman denies link to International Criminal Court cases

Rahab Muthoni who claims her picture was circulated online denied being the woman who testified at The Hague on Tuesday. Inset: Muthoni displays  the picture appearing on social media.  [PHOTO: PETER OCHIENG’ /STANDARD]

By KEVIN TUNOI

KENYA :A woman whose picture has been doing rounds on the social media identifying her as prosecution witness number 536 has denied she is the one who testified at The Hague on Tuesday.

Rahab Muthoni, 27, said she was disturbed that her picture was being circulated on various websites identifying her as the first witness to take to the stand at The Hague.

She explained she was not the one who testified against Deputy President William Ruto and former radio presenter Joshua Sang on Tuesday.

“I am really shocked and now fear for my life since some sympathisers of perpetrators of the post-election violence may want to harm me,” Muthoni noted.

She added that contrary to the rumours, it was not possible that she would been back in the country less than 24 hours after the proceedings.

Muthoni reported the matter to the police in Eldoret town after she received many phone calls from relatives and friends from different areas wanting to understand if the claims on social media were true.

“The picture circulating is one I had asked a friend of mine to take so that I could use it as my profile picture on my Facebook page,” she stated.

Muthoni added that the picture was taken at around 11am Tuesday and by 2pm; she was informed that it was doing rounds on social media with the witness tag on it.

Used maliciously

The resident of Munyaka Estate in Eldoret said she feared for her life, noting that her picture had been used maliciously.

Rahab explained that some of her neighbours and friends had calling her ‘Rajab the witness’.

Muthoni asserted she was not a witness although she was a victim of the 2008 violence. Eldoret West OCPD Ndung’u Wa Ikonya confirmed that Muthoni had recorded a statement with police, adding that he has referred the matter to officers dealing with cyber-crime.