Ababu defends Raila over ICC
PHOTO | NICHOLAS NTHENGE Prime Minister Raila Odinga is introduced to Kalenjin elders by ODM Party Chairman Hon. Henry Kosgey at Pilgrims Acres in Nakuru County where held consultative meeting with elders drawn from the Rift Counties, Nakuru, Kericho, Bomet, Narok and Baringo on October 29, 2012.
What you need to know:
- Sports minister Ababu Namwamba on Monday said that Mr Ruto, the United Republican Party leader, and Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey were the undisputed ODM leaders in the region during the 2007 General Election
- The minister alleged that the region’s residents would know who their enemy was when witnesses take to the stand at The Hague on April 10, 2013
- Mr Ruto, Mr Sang, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, and former civil service head Francis Muthaura face crimes against humanity charges at the international court
The ICC cases should not hinder the Kalenjin from voting for Prime Minister Raila Odinga, as the “PM did not play any role in the cases facing Eldoret North MP William Ruto and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang at The Hague”.
Sports minister Ababu Namwamba on Monday said that Mr Ruto, the United Republican Party leader, and Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey were the undisputed ODM leaders in the region during the 2007 General Election and mobilised the community to overwhelmingly vote for the PM.
Planning victory celebrations
“As much as people would wish to politicise the pending ICC cases, Mr Odinga would be the last person to fix Ruto and Kosgey.
“In fact, Ruto and Kosgey were in a team that was preparing to usher Raila to State House and organise victory celebrations unaware that the vote tallying was being messed up at the KICC,” he said.
The minister alleged that the region’s residents would know who their enemy was when witnesses take to the stand at The Hague on April 10, 2013. (Read: Ruto, Uhuru use ICC to lock Raila out)
Mr Ruto, Mr Sang, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, and former civil service head Francis Muthaura face crimes against humanity charges at the international court.
Some 1,133 people died and 600,000 others were displaced in the violence that followed the announcement of the disputed 2007 presidential election results.
Mr Namwamba was speaking during ODM Reloaded campaigns in Bomet County. He was accompanied by assistant ministers Beatrice Kones, Magerer Lang’at, and Manson Nyamweya, and MPs Millie Odhiambo and Agustinho Neto.
The team addressed rallies in Sotik, Kaplong, Kamureito, Chebole, Kapkwen and Bomet.
The leaders also reiterated that the Mau Forest evictions should not be used to scuttle the premier’s bid for the top seat in Rift Valley Province.
They said the exercise was meant to conserve the country’s water towers, adding that the decision was reached by the Cabinet and approved by members of Parliament.
The Bundalang’i MP said alliance talks between and among the presidential aspirants were welcome.
He challenged leaders across the political divide to preach peace both during the electioneering period and after the elections.
The leaders urged their political colleagues to guard against hate speech and allow presidential aspirants to crisscross their regions to solicit for votes without intimidation or name-calling.
