By Cyrus Ombati
NAIROBI, KENYA: Interior Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo says he has written to Deputy President William Ruto's legal team at The Hague demanding an apology.
This follows allegations that he and other top officials at the Office of the President coached Witnesses in Ruto's case at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In the letter Iringo says he told lawyer Karim Khan that the allegations made were false, unfair and without any basis.
Iringo quoted his letter saying: "As a respected and experienced lawyer, I expect that the legal team that you head should avoid playing political games and instead conduct legitimate credible investigations without tarnishing names of innocent individuals."
Iringo was an under secretary in the ministry of internal security in 2008, during which he is accused of coaching the witnesses.
It is then that Ruto's legal team led by Khan said that together with Nancy Gitau and others they fabricated evidence and coached witnesses against the Deputy President.
Iringo told the Standard he is disturbed by Ruto ally and Kericho Senator Charles Keter's demands that he should be sacked or quit over the allegations.
"I have never met the individuals they say were coached by me. I have decided to defend myself because the claims are baseless and I am innocent. I never coached any of those and I have never done that," said Iringo.
He added he wants the truth to be known over the issue.
Keter made the demands at the weekend saying they can not work with individuals who tried to fix Ruto.
His demands followed revelations in the court proceedings at The Hague where Ruto's legal team linked Iringo and other officials to the claims of coaching of witnesses.
Ruto is facing charges of crimes against humanity at the international court following the 2007 disputed presidential elections.
Read verbatim letter from Mutea Iringo to DP Ruto's lawyers
