Eldoret residents are eagerly waiting for the January 23 International Criminal Court's ruling on the fate of the six suspects it connected with the 2007-2008 post-election violence. The area is home to three of the suspects including MPs William Ruto (Eldoret North), MP Henry Kosgey (Tinderet) and radio journalist Joshua Arap Sang.
The other three suspects include Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura and former police boss Hussein Ali. Most residents are openly discussing the ICC issue but they hope peace will prevail in the region after the decision on the suspects, mostly referred to as Ocampo Six.
Ken Wafula, a representative of the civil societies in the region, said Kenyans should be ready to accept the decision of the court. "We should be ready for whatever decision the judges will make. However, peace is of prime importance and we should not take it for granted," said Wafula.
The suspects attended the confirmation of charges hearings last September and they have been waiting for the judges to make their decesion. ICC judges, including Trendefilova Ekaterina, Peter Hans Kaul and Cuno Tarfusser have informed lawyers for the suspects that they will deliver their ruling on January 23 in the open court.
Some residents of Eldoret and the North Rift region said they were praying for the suspects. "We need to pray for them and their families because they are our people. At the same time, we should be ready for the decision that will come," said ODM official in the region, Micah Kigen.
The court could either confirm all the charges against the six or drop all of them. Alternatively, the judges may drop some of the charges and confirm others for either of the suspects. It could also free some or all of them. Ruto and Uhuru are presidential candidates and the ruling, either way, will affect their political carriers.
Both have pleaded their innocent just like the other suspects. "This is a difficult year for me and my family but we rely on God and we know he will stand with us," said Ruto at the start of this year. Eldoret and the surrounding areas were seriously affected by the violence in which hundreds of families were displaced and more than 1,000 people killed. The families, some of them still living camps, are hoping that peace will prevail as the country heads to another general election.
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