Witness in William Ruto ICC case 'proven wrong' via video clips

THE HAGUE: A prosecution witness was at pains to explain how Deputy President William Ruto instigated violence during the memorial of Nandi spiritual leader Koitalel arap Samoei in 2005.

The witness had claimed before the International Criminal Court (ICC) that Ruto had used the occasion also attended by then President Mwai Kibaki to incite the Kalenjin against other communities in the North Rift.

But Ruto's defence team, led by lawyer Karim Khan, played a long video clip of the speech that Ruto made during the memorial on October 19, 2005, leading the witness to accept that he did not use direct inciting words.

The event in Nandi was to mark 100 years since Koitalel, a Nandi spiritual leader, was killed by colonial administrators. It was only days before the November 2005 constitution referendum that was largely opposed by the Kalenjin community but supported by Kibaki and part of the Kikuyu.

MEDIA REPORTS

According to media reports at the time, Kalenjin leaders were split on President Kibaki's attendance, arguing that the memorial should have been a Nandi affair.

The witness told the court that Ruto was among those who opposed Kibaki's attendance. He claimed the local leaders wanted to use the day to endorse some individuals and feared Kibaki's presence could change the agenda.

But the media did not mention Ruto as one of those opposed to Kibaki's attendance.

Ruto and former Cabinet Minister Henry Kosgey had been quoted then saying the occasion should not be used for political campaigns by both the banana camp of those supporting the constitution and the orange camps of those opposed to the draft.

Ruto had said that Kibaki was free to attend as a guest of the family but should not use the occasion for politics since Koitalel was a spiritual not a political leader. And during the memorial, some MPs caused a stir by walking out of the venue after they were denied a chance to address the crowd.

In his speech, Ruto welcomed Kibaki saying Koitalel should be honoured as a hero who lost his life in the fight for justice. He asked for formal honoring of Nandi leader.

But the witness who was being cross-examined by Khan, maintained that Ruto's foot soldiers opposed Kibaki's attendance, adding that they were speaking on his behalf.

He claimed during the occasion, only Kibaki was allowed to speak and all local leaders allied to the banana team were not given audience.

Ruto convinced the Kalenjin community to allow Kibaki to attend and that was why he spoke as a national leader without interference, the court heard.

"In fact Kibaki was so angry with what happened there," the witness added.

He confirmed that according to the clip, Ruto, who spoke in English and Kalenjin, did not directly incite the Kalenjin to chase out Kikuyu, Luhya and Sabot from the North Rift.