Ruto ‘asked State to free chaos suspects’

Deputy President William Ruto was accused, on Tuesday, of pushing for the release of suspects arrested for participating in the 2007 post-election violence.

A prosecution witness at the International Criminal Court said Mr Ruto called for the release of the Orange Democratic Movement youths, and businessman Jackson Kibor, from jail.

The suspects had been arrested during the violence and were set to be tried for their role.

The witness said Mr Ruto and other senior ODM politicians pressed the government to release the suspects.

However, Mr Ruto’s lawyer, Mr Karim Khan, denied the claim.

The defence showed the witness a television clip showing ODM leader Raila Odinga demanding the release of Mr Kibor from a Nakuru jail.

Although the witness watched the footage in private, Mr Khan posed questions to him in public.

Mr Khan read to the court a script from the video indicating that Mr Odinga said Mr Kibor should be released after being detained for 10 days without being taken to court.

The lawyer and the witness were in agreement that Mr Ruto was not in the video clip.

But the witness said Mr Ruto addressed other meetings where he called for the release of Mr Kibor.

“Ruto called for the release of Mr Kibor and youths arrested during the post-election violence,” he said.

The witness, who confessed spending two months in jail for theft last Friday, finished giving his evidence allowing the prosecution to cross-examine him.  

Tuesday's proceedings were characterised by lengthy private sessions as the witness and defence sought time to explore details.

Witness P0356 has testified for almost one-and-half weeks. The prosecution hoped to use him to show judges that Mr Ruto planned the violence that rocked North Rift after the announcement of the disputed presidential election results.

Two witnesses are expected to give evidence before the court breaks on January 31. The sessions will then resume on February 17.