Kenya: A prosecution witness has disowned evidence he allegedly gave, detailing how he attended two meetings in which Deputy President William Ruto instigated the 2007-2008 post election violence.
In his statement recorded with the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) in April 2010, the witness claimed to have attended the secret meetings, one at Sirikwa Hotel in Eldoret and the other at Ruto's Sugoi home.
In the tape-recorded interview, he had claimed that the meeting at Sirikwa was held on September 2, 2007 and was chaired by Ruto, who was then Agriculture Minister.
The witness had claimed that he paid Sh3,000 to gain entry into the alleged Sirikwa secret meeting. The second meeting, he claimed, was held on September 2, 2007 but later changed and said it was on November 2, same year.
He had told the prosecution that the meeting was to organise coordinators and attacks in South and Central Rift Valley. He had claimed to have heard all the speeches made at the event.
The prosecution had taken his evidence so seriously and asked him to tell all the details accurately and precisely. And so precise was the evidence that the witness had offered to draw sketches of both the Sirikwa meeting venue and Ruto's house.
The evidence was then filed before the Pre-Trial Chamber in 2011 and used to confirm the charges against Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang in January 2012.
But yesterday, the witness turned round and said he could not recall having told the OTP officers anything about the meetings. He said all the details he had given in his statement had come from a source.
"I have said this is not my story. I can't remember saying that," he told Ruto's lawyer Karim Khan during cross examination.
Withholding truth
"You waited for four years before telling the prosecution in November this year that it was all a lie because you knew you would be cross-examined," Khan charged.
"I didn't say I lied I said I got it from a source. I have said I was not in the meeting," the witness answered.
The lawyer accused the witness of withholding the truth even when he knew his statement would be used to confirm the charges.
The witness, however, said he attended the funeral of prominent athlete Lucas Sang in Eldoret, where various leaders called for removal of the Kikuyu from the area.
Hearing continues.
Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join