Witness put to task over politics

Deputy President William Ruto’s defence Thursday challenged the 10th prosecution witness’ knowledge of Kenya’s political affairs before and after the 2007 General Election.

Mr Gary Hooper said witness number 128 was ill-informed about the politics, during cross-examination Thursday.

At the same time, the prosecution disowned evidence given by the witness that a police boss had been killed by an arrow shot from a rowdy crowd in Nandi Hills.

Prosecution lawyer Anton Steynberg said they had nothing to prove the claims that the witness made on Wednesday.

The witness had given a vivid narration on how a senior police officer was killed by the arrow shot from a crowd at Nandi Hills Town.

Yesterday, Mr Ruto’s lawyer concentrated on the extent of the witness’ knowledge of the political situation in Kenya.  

 “You are ill-informed about political affairs in Kenya in 2007,” Mr Hooper told the witness. “If you cannot know that Mr Musalia Mudavadi was number two in the ODM hierarchy, then we can say you were not really informed about the political affairs in the country.”

The witness had insisted that Kalenjin leaders who attended political rallies at Koyo and Kobujoi called for eviction of Kikuyus and Luhyas if ODM won the presidential elections.

The defence questioned the witness on whether he knew Mr Mudavadi was Luhya’s topmost leader and was part of the ODM’s top leadership that included Mr Raila Odinga, Mr Ruto and Dr Sally Kosgei. He responded in agreement.

However, when asked whether he knew Mr Mudavadi was at the top of the party leadership, he said he did not know.

“Do you know that Musalia Mudavadi was number two in the ODM hierarchy?” asked Mr Hooper. The witness responded in the negative prompting the defence to question his knowledge of the Kenyan politics.

He was also asked whether he knew ODM was after votes from the Luhya community as Mr Mudavadi, a senior party leader, played a major role in the party. The witness said he was not aware.

The defence sought to portray the witness as lacking in the understanding of the goings-on in Kenya’s political circles before and after the contested polls.

The witness, who has been testifying since Wednesday, defended himself, saying he was not involved a lot in politics.

The court went into private session to allow him to reveal the “small political role” he said he played at the time.

“My level of participation was just restricted where I was. My political duties were small I could not interact with senior political figures,” he had told the judges.

Further, the defence also questioned the witnesses’ understanding of Aldai constituency leadership. He had told the court that he resided in the constituency before he fled due to violence.

She was questioned on the background of former Aldai MP — Dr Kosgei. “She was the PS (Permanent Secretary) in the Office of the President before vying for the parliamentary election,” said the witness.

“I do not know her CV,” he responded when asked if she knew Dr Kosgey had a doctorate degree from Stanford University in the US.