Ruto was crowned ‘King’ of Rift Valley, witness tells ICC
PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI Deputy President William Ruto and his daughter June arrive at the ICC on October 8, 2013.
What you need to know:
- The prosecution had asked him who had crowned Mr Ruto, and he responded: “Mr Ruto was crowned by community of Rift Valley and other Pentagon members also went there when he was being crowned.”
- Unlike on the first day of his testimony, Tuesday’s hearings were characterised by multiple private sessions at the request of the prosecution
Deputy President William Ruto was the “king” of Rift Valley in the run-up to the 2007 General Election, the second prosecution witness told the International Criminal Court on Tuesday.
“He was the king of the region over all ethnic communities,” witness 326, testified on the second day. He is testifying in public but with in-court protective measures such of use of pseudonyms and image and voice distortion.
The witness told the Trial Chamber that Mr Ruto had been “crowned the king” of Rift Valley in a ceremony attended by a number of ODM Pentagon members, among them Mr Raila Odinga, then the party leader. The “coronation” of Mr Ruto, the witness said, was also graced by elders from the Kalenjin and Luo communities.
The prosecution had asked him who had crowned Mr Ruto, and he responded: “Mr Ruto was crowned by community of Rift Valley and other Pentagon members also went there when he was being crowned.” He was led through the testimony by prosecution counsel Ade Omofade.
The witness said he was not aware whether the “coronation” was attended by Kikuyu elders. “I don’t know of Kikuyu elders attending the coronation,” he said and traced the origin of the “coronation” of Mr Ruto which he said came about because “each Pentagon member had a task to deliver and Mr Ruto was heading the Rift Valley”.
When asked if the “coronation” of Mr Ruto gave him influence over all the communities in the Rift Valley, the witness responded in the affirmative.
Apart from the title of “king” the witness said Mr Ruto was also crowned an elder among the Kalenjin. “I cannot say I know all the titles he (Ruto) has. (But) during that time of politics he was crowned to be the elder of that place. I don’t know if he has other titles.”
The witness said that Mr Ruto, like the rest of the ODM Pentagon members, had immense influence over their respective provinces through the party coordinators and aspirants. The coordinators reported to the respective ODM Pentagon leader as well as the National Elections Board.
IMMENSE INFLUENCE
For purposes of managing the Rift Valley, the witness said the province was sub-divided into South and North Rift. The North Rift coordinator, he said, was one Josephine Kulul while the South Rift coordinator was ole Kina Koitamet.
In Nyanza, the coordinators were Justice (rtd) Richard Kwach, Omingo Magara and Janet Ong’era while in Western where the then ODM presidential running mate Musalia Mudavadi came from, the coordination was left to Flavian Kubasu and party aspirants.
The coordination of Coast region was left in the hands of Pentagon member Najib Balala who performed the task through Dr Mtana Lewa. The coordinator for Central Province was Mumbi Ng’aru assisted by several local leaders. Upper Easter region was in the hands of Joseph Nyaga while the coordination of ODM in the rest of the Eastern was done by Mrs Charity Ngilu.
“They (coordinators) were overseeing the nominations of ODM. They were also working on campaign materials and help with disputes,” the witness said. “The returning officers on the ground could also report to them (coordinators) on the nomination of candidates. They could also, through the Pentagon leaders coordinate preparations for the rallies.”
Mr Ruto and Mr Joshua arap Sang are accused of organising the violence after the 2007 General Election in which 1,133 people were killed. Rift Valley was the most affected area.
The prosecution’s theory is that Mr Ruto planned the violence assisted by a network of Kalenjin point men to reclaim land from the Kikuyu.
“Mr Ruto, as a powerful politician, for his alleged role in planning and organising violence to achieve his political ambitions and satisfy his thirst for political power; Mr Sang, a radio broadcaster, for his alleged role in using his public voice to further Mr Ruto’s criminal plans,” ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in her opening statement of the trials of the accused on September 10.
And on Tuesday, the witness said the ODM structure was such that the provincial coordinators were accountable to the Pentagon leaders and the National Elections Board, then chaired by Mr Kwach.
In terms of funding the party nominees for their campaigns, the witness said ODM assisted some candidates with finances while the Pentagon members could also offer similar assistance.
“For candidates who were not able financially the party could give them money and if he (nominee) was close to the key Pentagon leader he could talk and get some assistance,” the witness said.
“I cannot be specific that he (Ruto) provided financial assistance but being that they (nominees) were close (to Mr Ruto) they could be assisted,” the witness said.
“Mr Ruto’s influence was seen during the campaign and the election because he managed to garner support for ODM. He campaigned seriously and garnered support (for the party).”
With regard to Mr Sang, the witness said that although he was not a keen listener of Kass FM, where Mr Sang presented a programme in the Kalenjin language, the witness knew Mr Sang because he visited the ODM office where the witness was a volunteer.
Unlike on the first day of his testimony, Tuesday’s hearings were characterised by multiple private sessions at the request of the prosecution. After the lunch break, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Omofade, said: “I have asked for the witness to be kept out briefly in order to make a brief submission which the defence can then respond to.”
After the private session, the witness was brought to the courtroom but the public session ended soon thereafter.
