President Uhuru Kenyatta’s name features in DP William Ruto’s ICC case

NAIROBI, KENYA: President Uhuru Kenyatta's political history has become key evidence in his deputy William Ruto's trial in The Hague.

Mentioned in the case was Uhuru's campaign against the draft Constitution rejected in a referendum in 2005.

Uhuru's opposition to the draft and his presence during ODM's launch in 2005 became vital evidence for the defence during Mr Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang's trial Thursday.

The defence used the evidence to try and defeat claims ODM had an agenda to kick the Kikuyu community out of parts of the country. The prosecution said Ruto and other ODM leaders instigated the 2007-2008 post-election violence as part of a plan dating back to the 2005 referendum campaigns.

On Thursday, Ruto's lawyer Essa Faal played video clips and produced other news articles in which Uhuru had been captured addressing mammoth crowds during the campaigns for the 'No' vote in Nyanza and Rift Valley regions.

It was during one such rally in Kisumu that the leaders announced the formation of ODM to campaign for the rejection of the draft.

Uhuru, then a Kanu member, had teamed up with leaders of the Liberal Democratic Party including Raila Odinga, Najib Balala and Ruto to oppose the draft.

Ruto's lawyer used the footage of the rallies when cross-examining a prosecution witness testifying through video link from Nairobi.

Defence: Uhuru is a member of the Kikuyu, isn't he?

Witness: Yes, he is a Kikuyu.

Defence: Would you then agree with me that he will not organise the removal of Kikuyu from Kenya?

Witness: Yes, he would not be in a position to do that.

Earlier, the witness was declared hostile for recanting his initial evidence and diverting from the prosecution's case. He became the fourth witness to be declared hostile.

The witness said he was coached by a local organisation code named Number 19 to implicate Ruto, Sang and another person in the violence.

He said he was identified by the organisation as a witness in August.