Raila Odinga: DP William Ruto’s freedom lies in the hands of President Uhuru Kenyatta

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has laid down tough conditions for him to testify in defence of Deputy President William Ruto at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

While stressing he has always been willing to testify in Ruto's case that Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) never planned 2007 post-election violence, Raila stated his testimony would not be useful so long as those confessing they fixed Ruto do not make full disclosure and withdraw the false evidence.

Raila placed the gauntlet on President Uhuru Kenyatta and challenged him to order top government officials accused of fabricating evidence against Ruto to swear affidavits and the spy agency to similarly withdraw incriminating evidence against him.

“My testimony in support of Hon William Ruto will not assist him so long as the false testimony procured against him by the Party of National Unity (PNU) brigade remains on record at The Hague. My testimony would equally require that those who coached witnesses disclose what they told the witnesses to say against Hon Ruto to enable me effectively counter the lies in aid of the DP,” Raila said in a statement released Monday.

“The only people who can recant, disclose and withdraw the false testimony against Hon. William Ruto are President Uhuru Kenyatta and the PNU brigade. The freedom of Hon. William Ruto is therefore in the hands of President Uhuru Kenyatta. He is the one with the key to his deputy's freedom,” Raila added.

The former Premier demanded President Kenyatta to order Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and all those involved to immediately swear affidavits and disclose the names of the witnesses they allegedly recruited against Ruto. Raila said the sworn affidavits should also state what they told witnesses to say against Ruto so that his defence lawyers may discredit their testimony in their arguments on 'no case to answer' motion that is to be filed no later than October 23.

"If President Uhuru is genuine about securing the freedom of his coalition partner and Deputy President, then he must immediately order that Moses Kuria and everyone else involved to immediately swear affidavits... This will help those willing to testify in favour of the DP, including myself," said Raila.

Raila also wants the former Director of National Intelligence Service Mr Michael Gichangi, the President's political advisor Ms Nancy Gitau and Principal Secretary Mr Mutea Iringo to immediately swear affidavits regarding their role in incriminating Ruto and disclosing the evidence that they procured against him so that the defense lawyers succeed in their “no case to answer” motion.

Ruto's lawyers have named Gitau and Iringo in ICC proceedings as among those who fixed Ruto.

Raila also demanded that President Uhuru Kenyatta orders the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to immediately recant and withdraw the confidential exhibits 19 and 19 A of the 'Waki Report' which contains the evidence incriminating Ruto in the pre-election violence of 2007/2008.

"If the President does not do that, then we must conclude that he and the PNU brigade are playing a very cruel and callous game against William Ruto," said Raila.

He questioned why nobody is talking about recanting and withdrawing the false testimony that some have confessed they used against Ruto at his trial. Raila, however, said he found the demands by Jubilee leaders for him to testify for Ruto curious as the deputy president had not been put on his own defence and given in the past they had told Ruto that he needed no help from the former premier.

"Ruto has not been put on his defence. I don't know what information those calling upon me to testify for Hon. William Ruto have, but they seem to know something that the rest of us do not know. I find this premature talk about Ruto's defence curious and disturbing," said Raila.

Raila explained that ever since he made the offer to testify for Ruto, he has been publicly and privately told by persons claiming to stand with Ruto that his testimony is not needed.

He said that Ruto and his legal team have been publicly beseeched by the same Jubilee politicians challenging him to testify, not to accept any help from him.