Era of poll violence over, Ruto says as lawyer wants suspects handed to ICC

Deputy President William Ruto on Sunday swore that Kenyans were never going to fight over political rivalry again.

Mr Ruto, who had been accused of sponsoring the violence in the Rift Valley after the 2007 election and has just been set free by the ICC, said: “Beneficiaries and losers of the post-election violence should know that that chapter is closed and behind us. There will never be violence over political competition.”

After all the six suspects were freed by the International Criminal Court, the government appears to be determined to declare victory, sever links with the ICC and draw a line under an issue that has divided the country.

The Opposition, on the other hand, accused Jubilee of “dancing on the graves” of the victims of the election chaos and claimed that those who suffered had been forgotten.

Saturday, the Deputy President — together with several Jubilee MPs — accused the Opposition of using the victims of post-election violence for political purposes.

“It is not right to display the victims in political rallies. The victims should come forward so that they can be compensated the way we have done to others,” said Mr Ruto. “No one should use the victims to drive a political agenda. We are ready to ensure that those that were affected are paid in order to lead normal lives.”

Countering prayer rally

On Saturday, Cord leaders paraded victims of the violence at a rally in Kibera, Nairobi, which was aimed at countering the Afraha Stadium prayer rally in Nakuru after charges against Mr Ruto and former radio presenter Joshua arap Sang were dropped early this month.

Saturday, Mr Ruto went to the Jesus Winners Ministry Church in Kasarani to thank worshippers for their prayers, saying that when the case started, he sought prayers at the church led by Bishop Edward Mwai.

“We should thank God for what he has done to us because it’s through your prayers that we are here,” he said. “The ICC and Hague chapter is also closed permanently. Those who benefited should know that. We are now a peaceful and God-fearing nation henceforth.”

Mr Ruto said the Jubilee administration wanted to build a stable nation where all Kenyans work together.

IDP VETTING

Meanwhile, the government is set to start vetting all integrated internally displaced persons (IDPs) and forest evictees.

Members of the Forest Evictees and Internally Displaced Persons Board said there were 110,000 integrated forest evictees and IDPs who are yet to be compensated.

“Following the 2007/ 2008 post-election violence, we compiled a list of all genuine forest evictees and IDPs. We are asking all the integrated victims to expect vetting ahead of compensation soon,” said Mr Patrick Githinji, the chairman of the board.

The IDPs problem arose out of the 2007/8 post-election violence for which six Kenyans were charged at the ICC. All the cases were dropped.

Mr Githinji thanked the government for compensating those who were living in makeshift camps after the violence.

COMPENSATE VICTIMS

“Our appeal is that it should compensate the integrate persons once we are through with the vetting,” he said at Ndungulu Primary School at the border of Nandi and Uasin Gishu counties on Friday.

On Saturday, Kenyans who spoke on behalf of those adversely affected by the violence asked the government to consider the plight of those who were yet to be compensated.

At a rally in Kibera, Nairobi, Cord leaders also said the government should compensate the victims of the violence in which 1,133 people were killed and over 650,000 displaced from their homes.