William Ruto: ICC case collapsed because I am innocent

Deputy President William Ruto has termed as an answered prayer, his vindication for crimes against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court. (Photo: Elvis Ogina/Standard)

Nairobi: Deputy President William Ruto Friday said he has forgiven all those who fixed him at the International Criminal Court where he was facing charges of war crimes following the 2007/8 post-election violence (PEV).

Ruto, who was making his address at his Karen home said the ICC case against him and Joshua Sang collapsed solely because they were innocent.

“The case against me and Joshua Sang failed not because of witnesses or politicians, but because we are innocent,” said Ruto.

“Allegations against us were criminal acts of evil minds that schemed the case,” he said, adding that he has chosen to forgive all those who gave false testimony against them.

The Deputy President said that the Jubilee Government will not rest until all PEV victims are attended to, while acknowledging that they had shown tremendous courage during the resettlement process.

Ruto was flanked by his mother Sarah and wife Racheal whom he thanked for prayers and encouragement during the trial which he termed as” six torturous years that should never have been”.

He also thanked members of his legal team, political leaders, diplomatic team and Kenyans at large for supporting him throughout the trial.

“I confess that I had a legal team that you could not assign any monetary value to for putting all the effort to unearth falsehoods that were attached to the case,” he said.

He said there was no meeting or fundraisers that he knows of that were organised to plan the violence.

“I can confirm that there was no weapon, in my house or anywhere that I know by anyone that I know to harm anyone,” he said. 

The International Criminal Court Tuesday terminated the case against Ruto and Sang saying the prosecutor failed to adduce enough evidence to prove the existence of a network or organisational policy, a key pillar of the prosecutor’s case.