Deputy President's lawyer Khan: I will not apologise to Iringo over fixing claims

Deputy President William Ruto’s lead counsel Karim Khan says he will not apologise to Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo over statements made at the International Criminal Court.

Mr Khan said he and his defence team were just doing their duty of defending Mr Ruto in court “without any favour and protecting the truth”.

“There’s no cause to apologise. As a Queen's Counsel, I know my responsibility,” Mr Khan told Nation.co.ke in a telephone interview, adding that he stood by evidence presented in court.

Mr Khan said he was proud of his defence team’s work and that they will continue to thoroughly investigate the case facing Mr Ruto.

He said it is up to the judges to determine the truth about the case, if it is proved beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Ruto committed the charges facing him or not, or if the charges were fictitious.

Mr Iringo had written to lawyers representing Mr Ruto to protest the allegations that he 'fixed" the DP to face trial at the ICC.

'NEVER BEEN PART OF PLANS'

In the letter dated November 12, 2013 Mr Iringo said he has never been part of any plans to offer cash and protection to witnesses who would testify against Mr Ruto.

The PS said he was a law abiding citizen and a strong believer in the rule of law and that the claims made during the ongoing trial at the ICC were unfair, false and without basis.

“I am not aware of any group that was allegedly tasked with identifying witnesses to present to the Waki Commission. Indeed, I was never involved in the Waki Commission proceedings in any way,” Mr Iringo said.

The PS said Mr Khan's legal team "should avoid playing political games and instead conduct legitimate and credible investigations without tarnishing names of innocent individuals using privilege of the ICC forum, when these individuals have no means and or similar platform to respond to such accusations”.

Kericho senator Charles Keter on Sunday demanded the removal of 10 government officials who might have been involved in coaching witnesses to implicate Mr Ruto.

Siaya senator James Orengo has since demanded a statement from the government on what it was doing to ensure such people do not continue serving in their positions.