Ali witness did not have our blessings – Union

By Beauttah Omanga and Athman Amran

Officials of a workers’ union have distanced themselves from the evidence adduced at the International Criminal Court (ICC) by one of its officials in defence of former Police Commissioner Hussein Ali.

Top officials of the Kenya Plantation Agricultural Workers’ Union speaking at a news conference in Nakuru Friday said they never sent Peter Otieno to represent them and their members at The Hague.

"We never sent Otieno to speak on our behalf as a union or even represent the workers whom he serves as a branch secretary," said Thomas Kipkemboi, one of the officials.

Another official, Henry Omasire, said Otieno headed to The Hague as Ali’s witness without informing other union officials "and he had no blessings from the workers".

Meanwhile, Mr Ali quietly arrived in the country Friday from The Hague. He was expected to arrive on the same plane with Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Uhuru, however, did not show up and is expected to arrive today. Ali avoided journalists who had camped outside the international arrivals bay.