Deputy President William Ruto said fake ballots were to be used, ICC told

Deputy President William Ruto attended his trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) where another witness implicated him in the 2007-08 post-election violence.

Yesterday was Ruto's first day in the court since the session began last week.

A new prosecution witness narrated how he saw a vehicle belonging to Ruto drive around Eldoret town, asking people to block roads to stop delivery of fake ballot papers on December 26, 2007.

The witness claimed the claims about ballot papers being ferried to the Rift Valley had been started by the public but spread by radio broadcaster Joshua Sang on Kass FM station. The target roads included Iten, Kabsabet, Kisumu and Uganda.

The alleged ballot papers were to be ferried from Nairobi by Mololine and Citi Hoppa public transport vehicles.

Ruto and Sang are being tried for alleged crimes against humanity during the post-election violence.

The witness told the court, "I observed the vehicle mounted with speakers which were being used to announce that people should ensure the coming vehicles were blocked from entering the town."

Ready to riot

The witness said the blue Nissan Patrol registration number KAG 600Q belonged to the DP.

"I had seen the vehicle before in Eldoret. I knew it as his personal vehicle but nothing more. I had seen it many times but I can't tell specifically how many times," the witness said.

Asked how he knew it belonged to Ruto, the witness said he had seen him and his drivers in it. On this day, it was being driven by a man of light complexion and another passenger he identified as David Maswai.

The witness said many people came out to the streets to do as instructed and caused fracas.

"The people were excited. They were ready to riot in the town and ensure the papers did not reach Eldoret. They were ready to use all available means to stop it."

The witness claimed that before the elections some Orange Democratic Movement leaders had claimed the elections would be rigged.

He said, "I heard Raila say people were planning to rig but didn't say much about it. But I heard Ruto say, "naskia wanataka kuiba kura wajaribu watakiona cha mtema kuni" (I hear they want to rig the elections, let them try and face the music)".

The hearing continues.