ICC Witness: I saw six human bodies devoured by pigs

By Wahome Thuku

Kenya: A witness has said he saw human bodies being feasted on by pigs and dogs during the December 2007 post-election violence.

The witness, whose identity has been concealed, told the International Criminal Court (ICC) that on January 1, 2008 he saw six mutilated bodies in an open field at Huruma in Eldoret. And even after requesting the police to take the bodies to the mortuary, they refused saying they were tired of collecting bodies.

The witness was testifying in the case against Deputy President William Ruto and radio journalist Joshua Sang.

He recalled that earlier on, Kalenjin youths had engaged area residents, who were mainly from the Kikuyu community, in fighting and destruction of property, following the announcement of the Presidential poll results.

He said the area was mainly occupied by the Kikuyu, but other residents were Luhya, Luos and Kalenjins. “There had been good co-existence between the communities but in 2007 when the election campaigns started, the relations changed. There were divisions. The Kikuyu appeared to be segregated by the others, because they were supporting different political parties,” the witness said.

The witness gave graphic details of how Kalenjin youths, dressed in shukas and T-shirts, organised themselves to attack the villages and burn the houses. They were divided into three groups, located on three locations.

Organised groups

“The youths used to sit in open spaces at three locations at the ready. Their movement showed there was someone in control, either through the phone or through signals we could not understand. After burning the houses, they would go back to the locations. Another group would then be organised to go down and attack again,” he recalled.

He said after accomplishing the mission, the youths would go to take their meals at the house of a person whose name was concealed.

The witness said he and other residents fought with the warriors who were armed with arrows. They pelted the attackers with stones to prevent them from burning their houses.

The witness told Trial Chamber V(a) that on January 1, 2008, his wife went to their house from Eldoret Police station where she and other residents had taken refuge. “I then had to escort her back to the police station before the warriors came back,” he said.

He said as he escorted his wife who was carrying some of their household items, they saw three bodies near Huruma village being eaten by pigs and dogs.

“On returning, I saw many people around that area. Kikuyu youth had put a road block at that place and police were removing them,” he said.

He explained that as they advanced into the field, they saw three more bodies.

“We asked police why they were removing the obstacles instead of taking the bodies away, but they  told that us they were tired of collecting dead bodies.