The enhanced murder charges were contained in updated documents of charges prepared by Gambia-born Fatou Bensouda on the serious crimes against humanity facing the four Kenyans.
The new document reasserts alleged meetings held at State House, Nairobi, with Uhuru playing the central role in planning the revenge attacks witnessed in Naivasha.
As for Ruto who the prosecutor saddles with the Kiambaa church killings in Eldoret, the Prosecutor introduces a new list of alleged accomplices he was supposed to have worked with in mobilising, coordinating and commanding the killings in the Rift Valley.
Key among the names is that of Industrialisation minister and Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey, who initially the prosecution sought to have indicted alongside the four, before he was let off for lack of evidence that the judges felt would sustain trial.
Also listed as Ruto’s accomplices, though not for purposes of being charged by to show the depth of alleged planning and execution of a ‘common plan’ with military precision, are four senior former security officials from the Rift Valley.
They are two former military generals, John Koech and Augustine Cheruiyot, as well as former GSU and presidential service Commandant Samson Cherambos, who incidentally was one of the witnesses Ruto took to The Hague during pre-trial stage in a bid to clear his own name.
Also mentioned along this line is former international athlete killed in the clashes, Lucas Sang, as well as Mount Elgon MP Fred Kapondi.
Also listed as an accomplice is a renowned businessman and big-time farmer in Eldoret, Mr Jackson Kibor, a former ally of Ruto who was at first charged in a Kenyan court with the violence, but the charges were later dropped.
In her documents Bensouda outlined the kind of weaponry, strategies adopted to corner the targets of violence, the locations of attacks, and the manner in which the victims were executed as well as how the assaults were carried out and communication among perpetrators conveyed, to anchor the enhanced count she wants them charged with.
The evidence supporting murder charges during the 2007-2008 post-election violence, she made clear; also apply for the counts facing former Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura, who is charged alongside Uhuru, and Kass FM’s head of operations Mr Joshua Arap Sang, who shares his charges with Ruto.
The ICC Prosecutor now says she has additional incriminating evidence sufficient to sustain murder charges against Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, Mr William Ruto and two other Kenyan suspects.
The enhanced murder charges were contained in updated documents of charges prepared by Gambia-born Fatou Bensouda on the serious crimes against humanity facing the four Kenyans.
The new document reasserts alleged meetings held at State House, Nairobi, with Uhuru playing the central role in planning the revenge attacks witnessed in Naivasha.
As for Ruto who the prosecutor saddles with the Kiambaa church killings in Eldoret, the Prosecutor introduces a new list of alleged accomplices he was supposed to have worked with in mobilising, coordinating and commanding the killings in the Rift Valley.
Key among the names is that of Industrialisation minister and Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey, who initially the prosecution sought to have indicted alongside the four, before he was let off for lack of evidence that the judges felt would sustain trial.
Also listed as Ruto’s accomplices, though not for purposes of being charged by to show the depth of alleged planning and execution of a ‘common plan’ with military precision, are four senior former security officials from the Rift Valley.
They are two former military generals, John Koech and Augustine Cheruiyot, as well as former GSU and presidential service Commandant Samson Cherambos, who incidentally was one of the witnesses Ruto took to The Hague during pre-trial stage in a bid to clear his own name.
Also mentioned along this line is former international athlete killed in the clashes, Lucas Sang, as well as Mount Elgon MP Fred Kapondi.
Also listed as an accomplice is a renowned businessman and big-time farmer in Eldoret, Mr Jackson Kibor, a former ally of Ruto who was at first charged in a Kenyan court with the violence, but the charges were later dropped.
In her documents Bensouda outlined the kind of weaponry, strategies adopted to corner the targets of violence, the locations of attacks, and the manner in which the victims were executed as well as how the assaults were carried out and communication among perpetrators conveyed, to anchor the enhanced count she wants them charged with.
The evidence supporting murder charges during the 2007-2008 post-election violence, she made clear; also apply for the counts facing former Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura, who is charged alongside Uhuru, and Kass FM’s head of operations Mr Joshua Arap Sang, who shares his charges with Ruto.
The document filed at the ICC court on January 5 further indicates that this allowed them maximum control over the attacks.
“Kenyatta and Muthaura participated in multiple meetings at State House in Nairobi on December 30, 2007 and about January 3, 2008 at the Nairobi Club,” says the updated document.
The meetings were allegedly held to activate the Mungiki and pro-PNU youths by placing the organisation under their central authority and to implement a common plan.
Uhuru and Muthaura allegedly committed the crimes against humanity by soliciting the support and contribution of local politicians and businessmen, providing funds and weapons to direct perpetrators.
Lawyers defending Muthaura countered allegations that he instructed the police not to interfere with attacks in Rift valley.
The prosecution claims Mungiki and PNU youth were deployed in various parts of Nakuru where targeted communities were attacked using petrol bombs, knives, machetes and guns.
The prosecution claims in the document that the attackers shot their victims between January 24 and 27, 2008 and mutilated their bodies to conceal gunshot wounds in areas such as Kaptembwa, Sewege, Ponda Mali, Barut and Kapkures.
“From on or about January 27 to 28, 2008, Muthaura and Kenyatta committed, jointly with each other and through members of the Mungiki group and pro-PNU youth, crime against humanity of the murder of civilians perceived to be supporters of ODM,” Bensouda stated.
Within that period, the prosecution said at least 23 victims were killed, including 13 children, in Naivasha.
It was in Nakuru that Mungiki and pro-PNU youth went from house to house rounding up and forcibly circumcising men from one community using pangas and broken bottles.
“Six people were treated at the Provincial General Hospital of Nakuru for traumatic circumcision,” charges Bensouda.
According to the prosecution, Rift Valley suffered the biggest brunt of the violence with 700 deaths and 400,000 forcible transfers of the population recorded.
Ruto and Sang’s defence counsel are to grapple with claims that between 2006 to January 2008, their clients, along with others, planned to forcibly evict from the province members of three communities that were perceived to be PNU supporters.
This they were to allegedly do in a bid to have the region vote as a bloc in future general elections.
“Ruto and Sang knew that their conduct was part of, or intended for their conduct to be part of, a widespread or systematic attack,” she charges.
“Perpetrators armed with arrows and machetes attacked Langas on January 1, 2008,” she stated. - The Standard
