Eldoret North MP William Ruto says his visit to The Hague was 'wonderful' and is promising he will on arrival this morning shed light on any unclear issues about his tour.
Ruto told The Standard on the telephone from The Hague he had managed to give the International Criminal Court team his side of the story on the 2007 post-election violence.
Supporters of suspended Minister for Higher Education William Ruto (right) have planned a ‘heroic’ welcome for the minister upon his arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from The Hague. [PHOTO: file/STANDARD]
"I can’t tell you more than what my lawyers have stated so far, but I will address all the issues you want to know when I arrive tomorrow (Monday) morning at the airport," he added.
The suspended Higher Education Minister did not travel back on Saturday night as earlier communicated by his legal team, but is instead scheduled to land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Monday morning at 7am.
But what stood out last evening was the elaborate ‘heroic’ welcome his supporters were preparing for the airport from where he left quietly last Wednesday evening. In his words then, he was going to The Hague to, "put the record straight" with the International Criminal Court.
Ruto comes back from The Hague, as ICC investigators in Kenya get ready to interview security officers who served in areas that experienced the election violence.
The ICC, The Standard has established, has issued summons to several security officials who were targeted for questioning.
hot zones
The summons, together with the questions they will face, were delivered to Provincial Commissioners and regional police chiefs who served in the hot zones during the post-election violence, on Friday through their lawyers.
Ruto, who was accompanied by Belgut MP Charles Keter and his two lawyers — Prof Kindiki Kithure and Katwa Kigen — promised to state the issues he had raised with the ICC team in so far as he would not jeopardise the cases.
"You will realise there are issues I cannot talk about as they are subject of investigation by the ICC team. But there are issues which I forwarded to the team, which I shall make public tomorrow to all of you so that I put this matter to rest," Ruto promised Kenyans.
Ruto wrote three letters asking for an appointment with Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, and on the last he was granted — something that has unsettled senior politicians who were left guessing the details of the case Ruto may have put up in self-defence.
land fraud case
Expressing satisfaction at his visit, Ruto who was suspended because he has an ongoing land fraud case, revealed he managed to take the ICC team through all the issues they had raised and much more.
Politicians and supporters of the Eldoret North MP from Central and South Rift Regions said they were preparing to welcome him in style as he jets back.
Some of Ruto’s supporters from Eldama Ravine and Mogotio yesterday said they were on their way to Nairobi to receive him.
Eldama Ravine MP Moses Lessonet explained no special arrangements had been put in place, saying those wishing to welcome the MP will foot their own bill.
He said Ruto supporters were eager to see and hear about his trip to the International Criminal Court and what it means for his political ambitions.
"People want to see their leader and we will all meet at the airport," Lessonet added.
Rongai MP Luka Kigen said Ruto was no ordinary leader and called on the people of Rift Valley to turn up in large numbers to receive him.
"He is a national leader and not a community leader as others want us to believe," argued Kigen.
Most of the minister’s supporters hailed his decision to travel to The Hague, saying it proved his innocence.
"We are fully behind him and that’s why we are preparing to meet him," said a Nakuru resident, Mr Moses Langat.
Langat explained he had made his own arrangements for the airport trip. Some civic leaders from Kericho and Bomet counties also said they would be at the airport when he lands.
In Nairobi, the lawyers hired by PCs and PPOs told The Standard they were taking their clients through the questions in readiness for the questioning that will start on November 24.
"We were expecting the summons on Monday but we received them earlier, on Friday. We are now working hard to make the work easier," said one lawyer representing the security chiefs.
handed questions
Lady Justice Kalpana Rawal, who will preside over the exercise, handed the questions to the ten officials after receiving them from an ICC lawyer and detectives who are in the country.
The ICC is keen on interviewing PCs and PPOs who were then in Nyanza, Nairobi, Central, Coast and Rift Valley provinces. It is not clear yet who will be the first to appear before Lady Justice Rawal, but insiders said the lawyers would meet today to decide.
Rawal said she expects to have each of the security chiefs to take two to three days in the witness desk as the process continues.
"This is not a trial but a process to help ICC get facts regarding a case they are investigating in the country. We will work as a team," said the lady justice.
She said as far as she was concerned, the security chiefs would be interrogated as witnesses, not suspects.
She explained that the proceedings would be held in camera but she will occasionally allow the public inside if and when she will deems it fit.
The ICC is investigating crimes against humanity in the country, which were committed in the post-election violence.
Lady Justice Rawal was appointed to preside over the statement-taking process after the security chiefs declined to be grilled by ICC without the presence of a judge.
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