Ruto and Kosgey gave cash for attacks, Ocampo witnesses say
Former industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey sits with his lawyers in the courtroom of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, The Netherlands, on September 1, 2011. Former Higher Education minister Ruto, Mr Kosgey and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang are facing charges of crimes against humanity before the ICC. AFP
By NATION TEAM (newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com)
Posted Friday, September 2 2011 at 12:03
Posted Friday, September 2 2011 at 12:03
Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague were on Friday told that senior Kenyan politicians gave out cash to drive attacks in the Rift Valley province.
They also set up a command structure involving former members of the armed forces, prosecutors at the ICC told the judges as confirmation hearings against the two politicians and radio presenter Joshua Sang entered day two.
The prosecutors from Luis Moreno Ocampo’s office said they have witnesses who will testify how people were given money for attending meetings and for purchasing weapons to drive out members of the Kikuyu tribe from Rift Valley. (Follow our Livetext coverage from the court)
“At a meeting at Ruto's Sugoi home, Ruto gave each youth KSh4,000, said a witness,” the prosecutors told the judges adding that this was corroborated by a second witness.
The ICC is holding hearings to determine whether to confirm charges that Mr Ocampo has brought against the three for their alleged role in the Kenya chaos that left 1,300 dead and 600,000 homeless.
Violence broke up immediately President Kibaki was declared the winner and sworn in following a disputed election at the end of 2007. It took the intervention of the international community and a peace deal brokered by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan to quell the bloodletting.
The peace deal resulted in the two rival parties – the Party of National Unity (PNU) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) – sharing power in a coalition government. PNU leader Kibaki kept the presidency while ODM leader came in as Prime Minister.
Day two of the hearings will dwell mostly on the prosecutor's presentation of the evidence on crimes against humanity and the modes of liability for each of the three suspects.
Mr Ocampo’s office said they will use visual aids to show that the suspects indeed committed the alleged crimes.
The prosecutors also said witnesses reported how Mr Ruto ordered that those who did not support ODM should pack their bags and leave the Rift Valley.
Mr Sang is said to have provided avenue to broadcast the Network's message.
The hearing continues.
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