Witness: William Ruto incited Kalenjins to expel Kikuyus

A witness has claimed that Deputy President William Ruto incited members of the Kalenjin to expel the Kikuyu community from the Rift Valley.

Testifying at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague Monday, the witness claimed Ruto made the remarks ahead of the 2007 general elections.

He claimed Ruto incited the Kalenjin at a harambee (fundraiser) in Turbo. He allegedly used the Nandi words, “Onge mande kokoechu” (drive out those kikuyu).

The witness said he interpreted Ruto’s words to mean that if necessary the Kikuyu should be driven back to Central Kenya.

He said the crowd attending the harambee cheered in jubilation after Ruto, then Eldoret North MP, made the remarks. “Ruto spoke in Nandi then switched to English for the journalists,” he said.

He said Ruto also added that those who supported President Mwai Kibaki’s PNU party were abnormal and crazy.

The witness said he recorded the same words when he met the ICC investigators in May 2011.

Ruto is charged alongside radio journalist Joshua Sang for crimes against humanity said to have been committed during the Post-election violence in 2007/2008. More than 1,200 people were killed during the PEV following the announcement of the disputed presidential election results.

Earlier the witness, who is the 29th to testify in the case, claimed Sang used his morning programme to campaign for Ruto to become a Kalenjin leader.

The witness, who began testifying Monday, said Sang used Kass FM radio station to declare Ruto a “true Kalenjin leader”.

“He hosted Ruto and gave him an opportunity to make a speech on radio. Sang then put questions to him,” the witness testified.

He claimed Sang campaigned for Ruto using a group of people who called in during the show.

Ruto and Sang are facing crimes against humanity charges said to have been committed during the post-election violence in 2007-2008.

Prepared callers

Earlier, presiding judge Eboe Osuji took the witness through the requirements and procedures of the court.

The witness, who is the 29th in the case testified in the presence of Mr Ruto who travelled to The Hague on Sunday, to attend the proceedings for a week.

He said during the radio shows it became clear to him that the callers were prepared to put questions to Ruto as a way to follow through with the campaign to make him a leader.

“How did it come to light that the callers had been prepared to call? How did you find out?” the prosecutor asked.

“One time I called in myself and Joshua Sang asked me my name. Regarding the others, Sang would talk to them without asking their names. Then I wondered how he knew their names,” the witness responded.

The witness said the callers were part of a group of Kass FM supporters who called in regularly.

“One of the groups was called Sunrise. Sang would tell a member of Sunrise to greet a member of another group. I can’t recall the other group and if it still exists or was dissolved,” he said.

He named one of the callers as a person who used the pseudo name Councillor and another as Kiptindinwyo.

The hearing continues.