Leaders tell ICC off, push officials who ‘fixed’ DP William Ruto to testify in case

Leaders during a meeting to pray for the Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang at Kabartonjo Primary School in Baringo County earlier this month. They have thrashed warning by ICC judges over the rallies. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

NAIROBI: Legislators organising the prayer rallies for Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang yesterday poured cold water on the warning by the ICC on the prayer meetings.

Jubilee MPs were yesterday defiant that they will continue with their prayer meetings and that they were happy that the ICC judges were keenly following and listening to the damning revelations coming out of the rallies.

National Assembly’s Majority Leader Aden Duale said he was impressed that Chile Eboe-Osuji, ICC presiding judge, was keeping tabs on developments in Kenya.

“I have heard that ICC judge is complaining that politicians are commenting on the case. I am happy that Eboe-Osuji has confirmed that he is following what is happening in Kenya,” said Duale while addressing the public in Eastleigh.

It has also emerging that the Jubilee legislators are pushing for those named by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to testify in the Hague.

“We are going a notch higher. Those mentioned by Raila and are in government should testify if Ruto and Sang are put to their defences,” said Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria.

The MP said those mentioned should be ready to go to the ICC and say what they know about the procurement and coaching of the witnesses.

Raila had on Monday said President Kenyatta should order the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to withdraw evidence given to the Waki Commission, especially confidential exhibits 19 and 19A of the Waki Report, saying the exhibits contained evidence wrongly incriminating Ruto.

He also said Uhuru should order former NIS Director Michael Gichangi, State House political advisor Nancy Gitau and suspended PS Mutea Iringo to swear affidavits regarding their role in incriminating Ruto.

“Raila dropped some names and we are in agreement that they should go and tell the court what they know about the case,” said Gikaria.

On Friday, ICC Presiding judge Chile Eboe-Osuji warned Kenyan politicians to keep off the cases and allow judges and lawyers to do their work.

“There has been unending stream of clamour in the Kenyan media about the proceedings in this case. This is an odd conduct that has been observed even before the commencement of evidencial hearing in the case indicating divided sentiments on either side of the case. This of course is an astonishing behaviour to observe in the context of an active criminal trial but we are not impressed, not in the least,” said Judge Eboe-Osuji.

Contradictory warning

But Gikaria said the reaction of the judges showed that they had panicked about Gatundu MP Moses Kuria’s confession.

“What Kuria said is the truth and many people are at crossroads on what to do. It is clear Ruto was framed by those who were in government then and they should either record statements in the ICC or with the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP),” he said.

The MP also termed the ICC judge’s warning contradictory. “They are saying our statements will not have an impact and at the same time warning us about the rallies. It is clear they are confused,” he said.

The MP said they will continue discrediting the court until the two Kenyans facing charges are freed.

“The prosecution and the judges should know that we will not be cowed. We are in Kenya, not in Netherlands. We will continue castigating the court as political court until the two are set free,” he said.

Kericho Senator Charles Keter said nothing will stop MPs from continuing with the prayer rallies.

“Let it be very clear to them (ICC judges) that nothing will stop us from continuing with the prayer meetings,” said Keter.

He said they have always respected the court but were jolted to action by its decision to admit backdoor evidence recanted by witnesses.

“We have always kept quiet until they decided to use a backdoor and allow usage of recanted evidence by invoking rule 68,” he said. Keter said it was very clear that the ICC judges had a predetermined mind on the end game of the judicial process.

Eldama Ravine MP Moses Lessonet said the fact that the judge issued a statement means the message was getting to the right ‘target’ who should be prepared to hear more revelations.

“We are very happy that the ICC judges are following the prayer meetings keenly. They are listening to the shocking revelations. Now we will increase the momentum further,” he said.

“The decision to organise prayer rallies was an idea of parliamentarians of which Ruto and Sang are not members. The judges should be sincere on what they target to achieve by issuing warnings,” he said.

The MPs will today be in Suswa for the prayers then Murang’a in the first week of November, according to Senator Keter.

Molo MP Joseph Kiuna said neither ICC nor any other institution can gag leaders from praying for their colleagues. “Those are empty threats which do not count. There is freedom of worship and no one can take that away,” he said.

He said all those who know something about witness coaching and procurement of witnesses should come out.

Narok West MP Patrick Ntutu was adamant that the prayers will continue. His Narok East counterpart Ken Kiloku said they are expecting more than 150 leaders from across the country at Suswa and dismissed Osuji’s assertion that the rallies are meant to bully the ICC.

“People have confessed to have coached the witnesses and are willing to testify. This should be a good ground for the court to dismiss the cases,” said Kiloku.