MPs vow to stand by William Ruto in chaos suit

Over 40 Jubilee coalition lawmakers on Thursday rallied behind Deputy President William Ruto following an ICC ruling seen as a setback in his case.

The International Criminal Court's Trial Chamber ruled that Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda can use recanted evidence from five witnesses.

Majority Leader Aden Duale said the court is pursuing a political agenda.

“In 2010, we said this is a political case. We have been consistent in our claims. The Trial Chamber’s ruling is a demonstration of that agenda,” he said.

“Having thrown out the case against President Uhuru Kenyatta, the strengthening of the case against Mr Ruto, through a favourable ruling for the prosecution side, is seen as calculated to weaken the coalition,” said Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi, who read part of the statement.

‘CASE TO COLLAPSE’

He said the case would collapse just like the other four of the six suits that were before the court in The Hague.

Of the original “Ocampo Six” suspects accused in connection with the 2007/8 post-election violence, only the two cases against Mr Ruto and former radio presenter Joshua arap Sang are remaining.

Over 1,000 people were killed in the violence and thousands of others were displaced.

The lawmakers vowed to stand by the DP until his case is dropped.

Among the people whose cases were dropped were former ODM chairman Henry Kosgey, former head of the Public Service Francis Muthaura, former Police Commissioner Hussein Ali and President Kenyatta.

MPs said that by accepting unsworn statements, the judges “completely discounted the importance of credible evidence in criminal trial”.