Kuria agrees to be DP’s witness in Hague case

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria (left) addressing journalists at Parliament on October 12, 2015. Mr Kuria has agreed to be a defence witness in the case against Deputy President William Ruto at the ICC. PHOTO | ROBERT NGUGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Kuria met lawyers for Mr Ruto and his co-accused Joshua arap Sang, after which the MP’s lawyer, Mr Danson Mungatana, said his client would be a defence witness.
  • Jubilee MPs at the weekend criticised Mr Odinga for allowing his brother to give evidence. They said Mr Odinga should be the one giving evidence.
  • However, Mr Ruto got a major blow when ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda admitted recanted witness statements as part of the evidence she would use against the Deputy President.

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has agreed to be a defence witness in the case against Deputy President William Ruto at the ICC.

This follows a request by Mr Ruto’s defence team during their meeting with the MP at Parliament on Monday.

Mr Kuria met lawyers for Mr Ruto and his co-accused Joshua arap Sang, after which the MP’s lawyer, Mr Danson Mungatana, said his client would be a defence witness.

“Mr Kuria has formally agreed to be a defence witness in the case facing the Deputy President and Mr Sang in The Hague if so required, following a formal request by the defence side,” said Mr Mungatana.

Mr Kuria, who also spoke after the meeting with Mr Sang’s lawyers Katwa Kigen, Logan Hambrick and Philemon Koech, said his conscience was better after writing a statement on alleged witness coaching for the Waki commission.

He said he was also happy with Cord leader Raila Odinga, who has indicated his willingness to give evidence on what he knew regarding Mr Kuria’s allegations that the MP was part of a scheme to procure witnesses for the commission.

However, Mr Kuria has asked Mr Odinga not to impose conditions for his testimony.

WILLING TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE

To Mr Kuria, being interviewed by Mr Sang’s lawyer was a good chance for the matter of witness procuring to come to light.

I only want it to be known that Mr Ruto and Mr Sang are innocent, he said.

The MP, who has been critical of Mr Odinga, pleaded with him to come forward and write a statement.

He went on to ask Mr Sang’s defence team to consider inviting the Cord leader to give evidence.

Mr Kuria said he spoke to Mr Odinga’s older brother, Dr Oburu Oginga, before his the interview with the lawyers.

He said Dr Oginga had assured him that Mr Odinga was willing to give evidence. “I hope he meant his words,” said Mr Kuria.

Jubilee MPs at the weekend criticised Mr Odinga for allowing his brother to give evidence. They said Mr Odinga should be the one giving evidence.

The latest exchanges between Jubilee and Cord regarding the cases was sparked by Mr Kuria’s claim that he was part of a scheme, together with Mr Odinga, Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua and Kisumu Senator Anyang' Nyong’o, to procure witnesses for the Waki and Kriegler commissions.

RUDE SHOCK
The Jubilee MPs have been holding a series of prayer meetings over the ICC case.

The Waki report was used to charge six Kenyans at the ICC, including President Kenyatta, over crimes against humanity.

However, Mr Ruto got a major blow when ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda admitted recanted witness statements as part of the evidence she would use against the Deputy President.

Charges against President Kenyatta and three others have been dropped.

Mr Kuria is also expected to record a statement with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations today (Tuesday) over his claims.

ICC prosecutors have also expressed interest in Mr Kuria’s revelations and are expected to interview him at Parliament precincts on Wednesday.

On Monday, Mr Mungatana was cagey about what was discussed during the three-hour interrogation, citing the confidentiality clause.

He only said the issues discussed were “sensitive”. Mr Kuria has in the past threatened to name the witnesses allegedly procured.

He also wants the ICC to state whether it used their evidence or not.

It also emerged that Sang's lawyers had been requested by Mr Kuria’s lawyer to attend the “question and answer” session with the ICC prosecutor tomorrow, but they were yet to confirm that would attend.