Tears as Ruto, Kosgey, Sang leave for The Hague

By Augustine OduorIt was pushing and shoving, tears and shouts of goodbye as three of the Ocampo six arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Tuesday evening enroute to The Hague.
Hundreds of family, friends, relatives and curious onlookers who thronged the airport craned their necks to catch a glimpse of former higher education minister William Ruto, Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey and Kass FM radio presenter Joshua Sang.

Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey bids farewell to well-wishers at the JKIA as he departed for The Hague on Tuesday night. PI: Govedi Atsusa/Standard

Sang was the first to arrive at about 7.03 pm accompanied by his wife. On arrival, he hugged his wife, several friends and relatives as he moved to the check-in wing.
Kosgey, arrived about ten minutes later to a warm reception from several MPs, and friends who had gathered at the airport.
When asked to speak to the media he said: "I am going to The Hague, relax."
But the height of drama played out when Ruto arrived at the airport. Clad in a grey corduroy jacket, he displayed a broad smile as he shook hands with several MPs and friends.
Emotions went high as friends and relatives shed tears as they pushed to say their last word.
Shouts of ‘rais talk to us’ rent the air as his security pushed several people who requested a handshake from him.

One of the ICC suspects William Ruto addresses the media at the JKI airport before his departure for The Hague on Tuesday night. †PIC: Govedi Atsusa/Standard

The crowd surrounded him and held a brief moment of prayer at the check-in entrance before he moved in.
And when he finally spoke, he said: †"The support from the people has been overwhelming. We have received lots of prayers and goodwill countrywide. And this demonstrates that Kenyans know what exactly happened," he said.
Ruto said going to The Hague has presented an opportunity for him to set the record straight and allay speculations. "This is now the time to tell the truth," he said.
Ruto said he had forgiven anybody who had wronged him. Earlier, several MPs gathered at the city Cabanas resort for a brief send off meeting before they proceeded to the airport.
Cabinet ministers present included Sam Ongeri, Naomi Shaaban and Samuel Poghishio.

Kass FM presenter Joshua Sang shakes hands with friends and relatives as he says goodbye before leaving for The Hague on Tuesday night. PIC: Govedi Atsusa/Standard

Two other suspects, Uhuru Kenyatta and Francis Muthaura will leave for the same destination on Wednesday morning. Former Police Commissioner Hussein Ali is already in The Netherlands.
International Criminal Court Prosecutor Moreno Ocampo named all six as bearing the greatest responsibility for the 2007/2008 post-election violence in Kenya.
Charges against the six include rape, murder, deportation, persecution, inhuman acts, and other acts of torture. They are responding to ICC summons to appear at The Hague.