Ruto pours out heart after 3-day silence

Deputy President William Ruto address the media at his office in Karen, Nairobi on April 8, 2016. He thanked Kenyans for praying for him that led to dismissal of his case at International Criminal Court in The Hague, he forgave all that who planned and accused him of involvement in 2007 post-election violence. He is flanked by his wife Rachel Ruto (right) and mother Sarah Cherono (left). PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • With his mother Sarah and wife Rachel, by his side, Mr Ruto told a press conference at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi, that the case collapsed not because of anything else but his innocence.
  • He said he had forgiven those who conspired to make up the case. Mr Ruto did not mention names but said they should “engage in soul searching over the lies they told”.
  • Mr Ruto thanked his mother and his wife, saying they always resorted to prayers when things became difficult.

His wife used to wake up at midnight to pray and for six years, he feared for his mother if he were to be convicted.

On the third day after his crimes against humanity case at the ICC ended in a mistrial verdict, Deputy President William Ruto broke his silence and poured from his heart the pain and anxiety he went through and his new determination to reconcile and unify the country.

With his mother Sarah and wife Rachel, by his side, Mr Ruto told a press conference at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi, that the case collapsed not because of anything else but his innocence.

His message was directed at his detractors, whom he said he had forgiven, his supporters, whom he thanked profusely for standing with him, and his political rivals, whom he advised to base their wars on ideologies, solutions, policies and development and not suspicion, hostility, division, religion, ethnicity and hatred.

His case and that of former radio journalist Joshua arap Sang were the last against six Kenyans at the ICC to be dropped after the prosecution hit a dead end.

“Many other reasons have been postulated as to why the case collapsed. The simple truth is that it collapsed because I am innocent,” said Mr Ruto. He described the entire process as full of falsehoods.

He said he never met anyone in his house to plan violence and denied buying guns said to have been used in the post-election violence that killed 1,133 people.

“The case has been terminated. For the record, there was never a meeting or meetings in my house or anywhere I know where violence was planned against anyone,” Mr Ruto said.

“There were never any guns or any other weapons in my house or anywhere I know. There was never a plan by me or any person I know to cause violence.”

He dismissed the ICC prosecution’s theory of the existence of a “network” said to have been used to unleash terror in the Rift Valley. “I have no knowledge of any group of people or network of individuals that planned violence,” he said.

“The whole case was a conspiracy conceived, concocted and contrived on the basis of cruel and malicious lies. It was entirely founded on odious falsehoods,” he stated.

Mr Ruto said no Kenyan should ever be subjected to the torturous process and pain of facing such charges in a foreign land.

He promised to work for the compensation of the victims of the violence.

He said he had forgiven those who conspired to make up the case. Mr Ruto did not mention names but said they should “engage in soul searching over the lies they told”.

“I have searched my conscience and my soul and I have chosen to forgive all those who gave foul testimonies against me. They know themselves — individuals, civil society groups and all manner of organisations — I hope God will help them repent,” he said in a 20-minute statement. The political high fliers and hard-core supporters that normally dominate such events were kept at bay.

Only a team of media personalities managing the President’s press service joined the DP’s team in coordinating the event.

Mr Ruto thanked his mother and his wife, saying they always resorted to prayers when things became difficult.

“I want to thank two very special ladies in my life. On many occasions I didn’t find my wife Rachel in our bed in the middle of the night because she would have sneaked out to pray. I want to thank my mother Sarah for praying for me and the many hours she stood by me. Every other time we travelled to The Hague she came to stay with our children,” he said.

“If this matter had gone any other way, she would have been devastated because she knows how she brought me up. She took me to Sunday School. She made sure I went to youth camps. She did what every mother would do for her children.”

He also thanked lawyers Karim Khan, David Hooper, Alegendra Shyamala and Esa Faal.

“I want to thank my dear friend, Uhuru Kenyatta, for his steadfast support and encouragement. He is my friend, my brother, a dependable ally and true leader.”

On the huge expenses the case may have incurred, he said: “I cannot assign any monetary value to this case.”

He said over and above everything else, his victory depended on God’s mercy.