Kiambaa unmoved by International Criminal Court trials

The mass grave where victims of the arson attack on the Kenya Assemblies of God Church in Kiambaa, Eldoret, were buried. Survivors said yesterday that they had forgiven the attackers. [PHOTO: KEVIN TUNOI/STANDARD]

By Michael Wesonga

KENYA: As the attack on the Kiambaa church took centre-stage at the ICC trial against Deputy President William Ruto Tuesday, back home there was no perceptible interest in the case among survivors of the incident.

As the first prosecution witness testified to what she knew about the attack, in Kiambaa, on the outskirts of Eldoret town, residents went about their normal business.

The few we found in their homes complained the trial was opening up wounds that had healed following the tragic events of that dark day when over 30 people were burnt to death inside Kiambaa KAG Church.

Those interviewed, however, demanded that the government takes responsibility for what befell them and compensate survivors.

Joseph Kairuri, former vice chair of the Kiambaa Internally Displaced Persons group, told The Standard that the government should take all the blame for presiding over the 2007 General Election, which led to the post-election violence. “I do not stand to benefit at all if the suspects are convicted and would rather the government fully compensated the victims,” said Kairuri, himself a survivor of the attack.

Kairuri said most survivors felt government compensation was preferable as they had already forgiven their attackers. Such compensation would also allow the reconciliation initiated by the Jubilee government to take root.

Kairuri, who was in the church and whose right arm was left paralysed following the attack, said the country had demonstrated its faith in President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy Ruto by electing them, fully aware of the charges that had been levelled against them.

 “We would not have elected them if we had not moved on,” he said.

Moved on

He noted that the two predominant communities in the larger Kiambaa area were co-existing peacefully, attending the same church and working towards a common development agenda.

“I cannot read people’s hearts but all indications based on our actions towards each other seem to give the right pointers that we have achieved peace,” he added. Purity Musina, who was only 12 during the attack, said residents had moved on, were at peace with their neighbours and that clashes belonged in the past.