Police aided attacks, International Criminal Court witness claims

By FELIX OLICK

A prosecution witness at The ICC yesterday put the police force on the spot over their handling of the 2007 post election violence claiming some officers sided with attackers.

This came even as he sensationally claimed Kalenjin youths used a grenade like substance to torch houses belonging to members of the Kikuyu community.

The witness, the seventh against Deputy President William Ruto  maintained the attackers terrorised Kikuyu’s in the full glare of the police who would instead seek for bribes for protection.

“I want to say that when violence erupted, Kikuyu’s also took pangas,” he said during his examination in chief. But they couldn’t do much with the pangas because the Nandi’s overpowered them.

Police officers were also on the side of the attackers…If a Kikuyu would take a weapon he would be shot by the police because there was a plan,”

The witness identified only by the pseudonym P423 also claimed Ruto had influence over the police.

He said Ruto sent police officers to guard the home of a wealthy Kalenjin by the name Maiyo where stolen Kikuyu cattle were being kept.

“What if any was Mr Maiyo’s relationship with Mr Ruto?” asked Prosecution Lawyer Lara Renton.

Witness: Mr Maiyo was a rich man in the area. If there was any meeting, he would be there.

Ms Renton: What was the relationship between Mr Maiyo and Mr Ruto?

 Witness: I was told police officers guarding his home were sent there by Ruto.

In his testimony, the witness said lorries were used to ferry the assailants to Yamumbi village where he lived belonged to Maiyo, now deceased.

This is the second witness to claim that lorries used to ferry the attackers who went on a looting and burning spree were close associates of the deputy president.

 The fifth prosecution witness had said lorries used in his area belonged to an ODM politician and prominent businessman Jackson Kibor.

 The witness yesterday saida victim who died in the the violence paid the police protection money.

 “If you had money, you would give to the police and they would try to protect you. I don’t know what he gave the officers but he came with the police to help him carry away his property,” he told the Trial chamber V (a).