Uhuru Kenyatta welcomes DP Ruto, Joshua Sang acquittal

President Uhuru Kenyatta last evening welcomed the International Criminal Court’s decision to let his deputy free, and criticised the prosecutor for “blindly pursuing an ill-conceived agenda that failed to account for the post-election violence of 2008”.

In a statement, the President said he was delighted by the verdict, adding that it was a long overdue moment “but no less joyful”.

“This decision brings to a close what has been a nightmare for my nation,” he said.

A thanksgiving service will be held at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on April 16, he announced from France, where he is on a State visit.

“From the start of this case, I have believed that it was ill-conceived and never grounded on the proper examination of our experience of 2007/2008 as a nation,” he said.

“At the same time, I must remark on the fact that the victory on this matter is partial and the quest for justice incomplete, because the International Criminal Court elected to blindly pursue an ill-conceived, defective agenda at the expense of accountability for the post-election violence,” said the President.

He said as a result of the six-year prosecution by the ICC, many victims await justice and the real perpetrators of the violence are yet to be tried.

President Kenyatta was among six Kenyans charged by then Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo as being behind the violence that followed the General Election in 2007. The charges against him were dropped.

In 2012, he entered into the Jubilee coalition with Mr William Ruto, with their mission being to unite Kenyans.

Last evening, he said: “Each and every Kenyan was touched by the tragedy that befell our nation in 2007/2008. Each and every victim of this unfortunate happening matters.

“Not one of them has been forgotten. Their suffering demanded of us as the leadership to seek reconciliation.”

Opposition chief Raila Odinga congratulated Mr Ruto on being let go by the ICC.

The Deputy President was in ODM during the period he was accused of having committed crimes against humanity.

“It has always been our position that ODM, to which Mr Ruto was a key member in 2007, planned no violence against other Kenyans,” said Mr Odinga in a statement.

He expressed hope that the victims of the violence would get justice and reparations from the government to enable Kenyans to close that chapter in the country’s history.

“Justice must always be our sole shield and defender,” he added, quoting the National Anthem.

Attorney-General Githu Muigai was also critical of the ICC, whose cases he said had “otherwise become highly politicised by external forces”.

Prof Muigai said the establishment of an International Crimes Division by the Judicial Service Commission would ensure all future investigations and prosecutions of crimes such as those committed in the early months of 2008 happen in Kenya.

Before the cases were opened by the ICC, the Kenyan Parliament had rejected several attempts to establish a local tribunal to try those suspected of having mainly been behind the violence.

Narok Governor Samuel Tunai said: “Admitting the no-case-to-answer Motion is evidence of the soundness of justice, and, ultimately, justice has prevailed.”

“The ruling is most welcome by the people of Narok County, and we now appreciate that no matter how long the night of malicious indignation takes, the dawn of justice is never far away,” he added.

Central Kenya Parliamentary Group Chairman Dennis Waweru said the court’s decision would ensure the continued unity of the Jubilee coalition.

“Justice has finally been done. The prophets of doom who were waiting in the wings for the case to break Jubilee should look for something else,” said Mr Waweru.

South Imenti MP Kathuri Murungi said the Opposition is now in a more awkward position.

Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi praised the termination of the case as he challenged the Jubilee administration to focus on delivery of services to Kenyans.

Ms Michelle Kagari, Amnesty International’s Deputy regional director for Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes, said: “This decision could be seen as a major setback by thousands of victims who have waited for so long for justice.”

Additional reporting by Billy Muiruri.