Witness: William Ruto financed poll chaos

A witness has claimed Deputy President William Ruto contributed Sh200,000 at a fundraiser allegedly to fund the 2007-8 post-election violence.

He said the money was donated in Eldoret, through a prominent local farmer Jackson Kibor.

The witness claimed Ruto was scheduled to preside over the funds drive but did not turn up. Former Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi presided over the harambee at Ziwa Sirikwa market.

The court heard that during the event, speakers asked the youth to evict the Kikuyu from the Rift Valley accusing them of having rigged the presidential elections.

"Kibor announced that Mheshimiwa Ruto had given his hand and contribution," the witness claimed.

He claimed the funds drive had been publicised on radio as an event to raise money to help the youth. Journalist Joshua arap Sang made the announcements on Kass FM, he added.

But when the presiding judge Eboe Osuji questioned the witness, a member of the Kalenjin community, was hard-pressed to explain how he concluded that the funds drive was to finance war.

Osuji: Was anything said in the announcement that made you interpret it was money for war?

Witness: It was not announced over the radio that the money was for war. It was said it was for helping youth but I heard from the public that it was for weapons.

Osuji: Had there been other harambee announcements made to help youth in the past before the post-election violence?

Witness: Yes, your honour.

He said on the way to the meeting, he saw two lorries carrying hundreds of Kalenjin youths armed with bows, arrows and machetes.

One lorry carried about 300 youths. Its number plates, he said, had been concealed with papers. The witness said another one had inscriptions, Mafuta Farm and Kibor owned lorries bearing those words.

The witness said the youths were told to prepare to go to Eldoret and ensure the Kikuyu were "no longer on our soil".

Kapondi said people from Uasin Gishu could remove the Kikuyu from the area and he would help in removing the Luhya from Trans Nzoia.

The hearing continues.