Former security chiefs ‘led’ attacks in Rift Valley

By ERIC SHIMOLI AND GEKARA MAYAKA newsdesk@ke.natiomedia.com
Posted  Friday, September 2  2011 at  22:30

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Three former military and police officers were Friday named as the commanders of a military wing formed to kill and evict PNU supporters from the Rift Valley during post-election violence.

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Retired Generals Augustine Cheruiyot and John Koech and a former Commander of the dreaded para-military General Service Unit Samson Cherambos were named by the prosecution as commanders of different sections within the Rift Valley.

The prosecution indicated that they would present evidence showing that Eldoret North MP William Ruto was the “most influential Kalenjin leader” and Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey “an all-time Kalenjin leader”.

The allegations have already been denied by Mr Ruto, Mr Kosgey and a third suspect, broadcaster Joshua Sang while making initial statements on Thursday. (Read: Ruto hits at Ocampo case as shoddy, biased)

The prosecution painted a structure full with a political, media, financial, elders and military component led by Mr Ruto and Mr Kosgey.

The military component was divided into the North Rift command headed by Gen Cheruiyot, Central Rift commanded by Mr Cherambos and South Rift of Gen Koech.

Maps distributed indicating areas heavily inhabited by Kikuyus. It was now Kenyans versus the Kikuyus, Mr Ruto is alleged to have remarked.

The meetings allegedly took place at Mr Ruto’s Sugoi, home in Eldoret North, Nandi District, at Mr  Cherambos’ home and at various political rallies and meetings in Uasin Gishu and Nandi districts.

In all, eight meetings were held in the lead up to the December 2007 elections which, according to the prosecution, triggered killings in Turbo, Kapsabet, Nandi Hills and Eldoret Town.

The court went into camera for the first time to receive evidence prosecutor Cynthia Tai said was confidential.

Mr Cheramboss is one of Mr Ruto’s witnesses who are likely to take the stand on Saturday.

On the other hand, General (rtd) Koech is entangled in a bitter fight with Mr Ruto over the leadership of the United Democratic Movement.

The MP has indicated that he intends to run for the presidency on the party’s ticket.  

Mr Luis Moreno-Ocampo outlined that the alleged network had five main pillars.

These, according to the prosecutor, were politicians led by Mr Ruto and Mr Kosgey, businessmen who provided money to buy weapons and pay attackers, the former security chiefs, media and elders.

The elders were used to “instil obedience” in the youthful attackers trained by the military men while Mr Joshua Sang of Kass FM was used to spread the messages, identify non-Kalenjins and coordinate attacks using his broadcasts. 

On Friday, the prosecutor insisted that the violence was planned against strong arguments by the suspects that it was spontaneous. 

“The network took advantage of the existing land disputes and used the elections as an excuse to evict Kikuyus from Rift Valley,” said the prosecutor.

Mr Moreno-Ocampo alleges that meetings were held at Mr Ruto’s Sugoi home during which attackers were given money and promised land and immunity for their activities.

He says he had evidence to prove that Mr Ruto and Mr Kosgey used disparaging language against the Kikuyus ahead of the elections aimed at inciting their evictions.

He said the attacks in Uasin Gishu were systematic, widespread and directed at a huge population of civilians.

The most affected areas were Kiamumbi, Kimumu, Kapsabet, Nandi Hills and Kiambaa where women and children were burnt inside a Kenya Assemblies of God Church.

“Our witnesses and NGO reports indicate that the network perpetrators directed the attacks, which were widespread and systematic”, the prosecutor said.

According to the prosecutor, members of the network identified houses belonging to non-Kalenjins and mobilised attackers to move to their estates.

The key suspects are alleged to have contributed money and fuel. But Mr Ruto’s defence team has accused the prosecutor of failure to collect exonerating evidence.

“There was no way the prosecutor would have toured Rift Valley, talked to members of the Kalenjin community, police officers, the Provincial Administration and come out empty handed,” said lawyer David Hooper.

Mr Hooper says that they were frustrated by the prosecutor’s “over-reliance” on anonymous witnesses.