Ruto trial resumes on Wednesday

By FELIX OLICK

Deputy President William Ruto returns to The Hague today after the Westgate attack for what is likely to be his last trial session this year.

 The trial against Ruto and radio journalist Joshua Arap Sang resumes on Wednesday with no break. Initially, the schedule had provided for a break from October 4-14.  This now means that Ruto may be away at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for a whole month.

 “Hearings will continue on the week of October 7-11, 2013, contrary to what was initially scheduled, except for October 9, due to other proceedings that will take place in this courtroom,” Presiding Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji ruled last Friday in a status conference.

 Sang’s counsel, Katwa Kigen, predicted that they are likely to lose the ten-day break to compensate for the lost time.

This is because the trial against President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to open on November 12, and will alternate with Ruto’s trial every four weeks.

On Wednesday, the first prosecution witness is expected to continue with her testimony in a closed session.