Thursday, September 6, 2012

RUTO ADMITS 2007 MEETING AT SUGOI - ICC



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ELDORET North MP William Ruto has admitted to holding meetings at his Sugoi home in Turbo division of Uasin Gishu district during the December 27, 2007 election period. Ruto — one of the four leaders facing crimes against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court over the 2007-08 post-election violence — is accused of holding meetings to plan the violence. He admits that he owns the house in Sugoi where the meetings were held.
These are among 148 facts of the case which Ruto and his co-accused Joshua Sang have agreed to in the case against them. Since they have agreed to all these particulars, the court will assume all of them proved. The ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda will therefore not need prove them unless the trial chamber directs her to do so.
The ICC pre-trial judges had given Ruto and Sang on the one hand and the prosecution on the other up to Monday this week to present the list of the facts over which they are in agreement. This is in accordance with the ICC rules of procedure and evidence. “A chamber may consider such alleged fact as being proven, unless the Chamber is of the opinion that a more complete presentation of the alleged facts is required in the interests of justice, in particular, the interests of the victims,” the rule reads.
Ruto agreed that the list of local leaders who attended “some of the meetings” were Daniel Tai, Nelson Serem, Joel Tarus, William Boit, William Metto and Jeremiah Sang. He said David Koros and Joseph Lagat, whose homes were adjacent to his Eldoret North constituency, also attended some of these meetings.
Ruto did not dispute the fact that he was once the organising secretary of the Youth for Kanu '92 movement which was crucial in the controversial re-election of President Moi in 1992. Ruto agrees that he, together with Prime Minister Raila Odinga and others, formed the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) “by 2007".
Ruto says the ODM leadership contested President Kibaki's victory as announced by the state broadcaster KBC as they (ODM) deemed the election to be fraudulent. “After the results of the 2007 presidential elections were announced on 30 December 2007, violence broke out in Kenya and lasted at least until end of January 2008. This period is referred to as the post-election violence (PEV),” Ruto says.
Sang agrees that he had since 2005 hosted the “Lene Emet” which means "What is the opinion of the country?" programme on Kass FM and which was broadcast in Kalenjin languages, Kiswahili and sometimes a bit in English. “In 2007 and 2008, during the 'Lene Emet' programme, Sang was hosting an interactive and consultative programme which featured various topics, including politics,” Sang's submission reads.
Both Ruto and Sang have admitted that killings, displacement, burning and looting took place in Turbo, Kimumu, Yamumbi, Langas, Huruma, Kiambaa, Kapsabet and Nandi Hills areas. The two are agreed that the EMO Society held the “Tumdo” rite of passage ceremony in Kitengela on or about December 21, 2008. They confirm that Tumdo is used by the Kalenjin community to initiate boys into manhood.
Sang agrees he attended the EMO Society event in Kitengela on or about 21 December 2008 and another one in Eldoret on or about 31 December 2008. On the controversial Eldoret Market civic ward election results, Ruto and the prosecution agree on the following: “It is reported that in 2007 General Elections, PNU candidate Jane Muriithi Wangui was defeated in Market ward with 38.78 per cent of the votes." 
The Market Ward case is significant in aiding the prosecution's claim that ODM pursued a policy of persecution against perceived PNU supporters. According to Wangui, despite being announced the winner, the retuning officer awarded the certificate to the runner-up. The ward is participating in the September 17 by-elections after a protracted petition hearing which eventually led to the High Court nullifying the results last year.
Ruto and Sang have also identified as authentic maps and photos of the various places and venues mentioned in the prosecution's case. The photos and maps depict, among others, Turbo, Kapsabet and Nandi Hills towns.  Other places of significance indicated on the maps and photos include the Sirikwa Hotel in Eldoret town, Whispering Flames Hotel in Kapsabet town, Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Eldoret town, “Plaza” Building in Nandi Hills town and Turbo Police Station in Western Province.
Ruto and Sang are charged with three counts of crimes against humanity. Ruto is charged with being indirect co-perpetrator in commission of crimes of murder, deportation and persecution while Sang is charged with “otherwise contributing” to the commission of same crimes.

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