100 Jubilee leaders challenge Raila on Ruto witness claim

Jubilee MPs challenged Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) leader Raila Odinga to come clean on what he knows about the alleged “procurement” of witnesses against Deputy President William Ruto.

The more than 100 MPs asked Mr Odinga, together with Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua and Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyon’go, to record a statement with the Director of Public Prosecutions explaining what they knew about the case at the International Criminal Court.

Speaking at a prayer rally for Mr Ruto and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang in Kabartonjo, Baringo County, the MPs were taking a cue from controversial Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria on the alleged recruitment and coaching of witnesses to give evidence against Mr Ruto.

The ICC will this week question Mr Kuria about the claims.

Mr Odinga, Ms Karua and Prof Nyong’o have denied Mr Kuria’s claims.

Ms Karua has sought a court injunction blocking Mr Kuria from making utterances linking her to procurement of witnesses.

FALSE WITNESSES
The leaders, who spoke at the Kabartonjo prayers, attended by more than 100 MPs, said comments made by Mr Kuria should not be taken lightly.

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale challenged Mr Odinga, Ms Karua and Prof Nyong’o to record statements.

“This is a serious national issue as it is about two innocent Kenyans. The three should tell us what they know,” Mr Duale said.

At the same time, Mr Duale hit out at the International Criminal Court for declining a request by the attorney-general to represent the State in Mr Ruto’s case.

“Mr Ruto is the Deputy President and the AG should have been allowed to represent him just as was the case with President Kenyatta. We believe in the rule of law,” Mr Duale said.

Kericho Senator Charles Keter described Mr Kuria as a hero, saying the MP said what he knew on the case.

“Those mentioned should confess and be prayed for so that we can reconcile the country,” Mr Keter said.

Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki said claims of witness procurement was proof that the case was political from the start.

“False witnesses and those who coached and fixed others should repent and this case terminated,” Prof Kindiki said.

UHURU'S SUCCESSOR

Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu claimed that he knew two false witnesses who were first taken to Tanzania before being flown to The Hague.

He said he was ready to face the ICC to reveal details.

Jubilee leaders from central Kenya assured their Rift Valley counterparts of their support for Mr Ruto.

There has been disquiet in the ruling alliance amid claims that central Kenya MPs had deserted the Deputy President.

“Our political pact is still as agreed. As central Kenya, we will give Mr Ruto all our votes in 2022. We will stand with him until the end,” Ruiru MP Esther Nyambura said

Baringo North MP William Cheptumo said that TNA and URP had agreed that Mr Ruto would succeed Mr Kenyatta in 2022. He said the pact would hold despite the ICC cases threatening to split Jubilee.

“Our quest is unstoppable. That is the voice of Rift Valley leaders and the people,” he said.

I WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED
Addressing a different rally in Trans Nzoia, Mr Kuria said the International Criminal Court would not intimidate him to backtrack on his decision to speak out about the coaching of witnesses.

He wondered why the ICC had suddenly developed an interest in knowing how witnesses were coached.

“I will not be cowed by the ICC in my move to let the country know what really transpired in relation to cooked evidence and coached witnesses,” he said at a fundraiser for the AIC Seum Church in Cherang’any.

The MP said it was not the first time he was making revelations on how some officials from both ODM and PNU were involved in the coaching of witnesses to give false evidence.

“I am not scared of anything. I will not sit back and watch my brothers being victimised when those behind their woes are walking freely in the country,” the MP said

And speaking at Kipsoen Secondary School in Elgeyo-Marakwet County during a church fundraiser presided over by Mr Ruto, Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said the UN should intervene in the Kenya case at the ICC in the wake of Mr Kuria’s claims.

He also challenged those adversely mentioned by Mr Kuria to “voluntarily come out”.

Reported by Wycliff Kipsang, Florah Koech, Copperfield Lagat, Philemon Suter and Philip Bwayo