Rights activist Ken Wafula dismisses lawyer’s claims that he fixed Ruto at ICC

Centre for Human Rights and Democracy Director Ken Wafula addressing journalists in Eldoret Tuesday.  [PHOTO: PETER OCHIENG/STANDARD]

By FRANCIS KOECH

ELDORET, KENYA: A human rights activist has dismissed claims that he was among those who allegedly recruited witnesses to fix Deputy President William Ruto.

Ken Wafula, the Director of Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (CHRD), said the allegations by Ruto’s lead defence counsel Karim Khan on Monday that he was used to buy and coach witnesses to testify against Ruto and radio presenter Joshua Sang were “baseless and lacking truth”.

“Protection of witnesses is a universal procedure throughout the world as witnesses are protected by state agencies and there is no way an individual can do this,” he said.

Speaking to journalists in Eldoret, Mr Wafula however said as a human rights organisation working in the North Rift where post-election violence was rampant, CHRD protected victims of the skirmishes. “We protected victims-cum-witnesses for a period of three months and gave them money for housing and subsistence.” The activist claimed Khan was hitting back at him after he allegedly turned down his request to be a defence witness. “Karim is endangering my life and it is not right. He should be objective and provide evidence, otherwise he should stop dragging my name into this matter,” he said.