Uhuru's time

Uhuru’s time at witness stand – SEPTEMBER 29, 2011 ICC  29TH SEPTEMBER, 2011 BY DAVID MWERE   Uhuru Kenyatta   Deputy prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta takes to the dock on Thursday evening at the Hague to defend himself against crimes committed during the 2007 post election violence in Kenya. In an account that marks day eight since the second round of the confirmation of charges hearings against the head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura, Post Master General Hussein Ali and himself, Uhuru will attempt to fight off allegations that he bankrolled criminal activities in retaliation attacks against ODM supporters. On Wednesday, Uhuru’s lawyer Steven Kay made his submissions after Gillian Higgins, another lawyer in Uhuru’s entourage dismissed the prosecution evidence as, “flawed, unreliable, irrelevant, hearsay and unattributable to the author or source,” during her defense presentation. Uhuru who has chosen to be his own witness, will produce one witness. He will be cross examined by both the defense and the prosecution before he is stood down to pave way for his other witness Lewis Nguyayi, the Kabete MP. Uhuru’s case has a significant effect on the kenyan politics as he has declared his candidature for the presidency in the 2012 general elections. The DPM has a large following in central province. He is allegedly accused for his criminal responsibility for rape, forceful circumcision, murder as well as forceful transfer of people (ODM supporters) alongside Muthaura and Ali. Uhuru is accused of using the Mungiki sect, a criminal gang with political connections at the height of the heinous crimes. His counsel Higgins yesterday absolved the minister from criminal responsibility alleging the prosecution witness was relying on testimonies of two disenchanted individuals. The lawyer says the two were part of an extortion plot that had turned against Uhuru after their mission failed and decided to incriminate him. According to the prosecution evidence produced in court, the crimes were committed within the central rift valley towns of Nakuru and Naivasha, the hotbeds of the violence in the region under “a well coordinated machinery that brought together the political, business class and the illegal Mungiki sect.” The Kabete MP who will be appearing in the witness stand tomorrow is set to identify the two individuals that the prosecution was relying on. Related Articles: Women in Kadhi courts Guinea urged to investigate opposition protest deaths. Bishop Kivuva condoles Maathai’s family Uhuru expected to take witness stand at ICC this afternoon Share