Ruto’s defence deny he called for forceful eviction of some communities

By FELIX OLICK at The Hague

Deputy President William Ruto claims that the word madoadoa (stain) was used by a section of ODM politicians to rally its supporters to vote “three-piece” during the 2007 presidential campaigns.

Ruto’s defence Counsel Essa Faal maintained that some politicians used the word to encourage their supporters to give the Orange party a clean sweep in all the three elective positions.

“Mr Witness isn’t it in this context that some politicians encouraged people not to vote madoadoa?” asked the Gambian lawyer as he started cross-examination of the fourth prosecution witness yesterday.

But the witness who was an IDP at Eldoret Show Ground for about four months said no.  Faal then played a video of an ODM rally in Kabarnet in which former Prime Minister Raila Odinga urged residents to vote three piece and not madoadoa.

“Hatutaki madoadoa (We don’t want stains),” Raila said at the rally that was attended by a huge crowd

But even after being pressed by the Counsel that Raila used that word to mean three-piece voting, the witness maintained his earlier stance.

“You will agree with me Mr Witness that he (Raila) never asked for the removal of Kikuyu’s in that speech,” the lawyer posed

And the witness answered: “Its my belief that he meant that if you did contrary to his wish, then you are not with them.”

On Thursday, the witness only identified as 376 insisted that the deputy President sanctioned the removal of Kikuyu’s from the Rift Valley.

He maintained that Mr Ruto — in the company of Rift Valley politician and prominent businessman Jackson Kibor — referred to the Kikuyu as madoadoa that had to be removed.

“He (Ruto) told the crowd that time had come for the people in that area to show their true colours and do all that is necessary and what is available to make sure the madoadoa are removed,” the witness said of an incident in Eldoret town three months to the polls.

Word unused

Faal however insisted that Ruto never used that word throughout the 2007 campaigns.  “We deny that Mr Ruto ever used the word madoadoa,” he told Trial Chamber V Judges.

But the witness agreed that rumours on Decembr 29 that the election had been rigged in favour of retired President Mwai Kibaki angered ODM supporters in Langas where he lived.

According to the witness, the speculations that PNU had rigged the polls led to confrontation between the Luos and Kikuyus in the area.  “Mr Witness, you will agree with me that this information (that election was being rigged) angered the supporters of ODM,” asked Faal

 And the Witness responded, “Very much.”