We’re digging out PEV perpetrators- Kinoti

Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti on Monday pledged to prepare a watertight case against the 2007/08 Post-Election Violence perpetrators after receiving statements from some of the victims.

Kinoti was speaking at the DCI Headquarters in Kiambu County Kinoti after meeting some of the victims.

According to the DCI, police have already collected 118 cases from witnesses and complainants which included 48 cases of forceful displacement of people.

He exuded confidence in the collection of evidence saying police will prepare a watertight case that criminal elements will find too difficult to escape.

“We will carry the bible and swear before the court saying that this person killed that person and grabbed his land,” he said.

The DCI in retrospect painted a grotesque picture of the incidents, where helpless children and elderly Kenyans died at the hands of inhumane attackers.

Choked by anger, Kinoti talked of a cleric who died on his knees begging his attackers to spare him but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

“Go and see the number of children who were burnt. Who were left like pieces of wood...like charcoal, old people who could not walk and were escorted to the hideout were burnt,” he said, as he referred to the statements by the witnesses.

Asked to reveal the regions where the victims came from within the country, Kinoti said he was not on a mission to profile Kenyans using their regions and ethnicity.

He expressed optimism on the country’s system adding that it has the capability to try the cases and serve justice to the victims.

He said: “These cases are not going to be taken to the international court. Our courts are very competent. The criminal justice system …will stand with the tears and cries of the victims.”

The DCI boss said criminal cases are timeless, hence, there is no need to worry that these cases have taken more than 10 years.

“There are no criminal cases which are closed. They are [live] throughout their lifespan. Have you seen cases of robberies, murders of 15 to 20 years being prosecuted?” he posed.

He said police engaged the clinical psychological services of Dr Caroline Lukunga’s team, who works at the UoN, to provide mental support to some of the victims.

With only one year left to the elections, Kinoti revealed that some of the victims are living in fear—a situation that the security personnel are committed to dealing with.

“The government has given us firm instruction that not again should we collect bodies in lorries,” he said.

 “If we leave this place, let’s embrace peace and co-exist in harmony…continue living without anxiety...do not be afraid of anything.”

Gicheru surrenders

The comes after Kenyan lawyer Paul Gicheru surrendered to the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Netherlands, in reference to a warrant of arrest issued against him on March 10, 2015.

“Today, November 2, 2020, Paul Gicheru surrendered to the authorities of The Netherlands pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court,” read the statement from ICC.

“The Court, through the Registry services, submitted a cooperation request to the Dutch authorities for the arrest and surrender of Gicheru to the Court upon completion of the necessary national arrest proceedings.”

Gicheru was accused of interfering with PEV witnesses who testified in the case against Deputy President William Ruto and radio journalist Joshua Arap Sang.

However, on November 6, 2020, Gicheru pleaded not guilty to the charges.

“I do not intend to admit the charges under Article 65. The allegations read out to me are not true. They are false. All six of them are false,” he told Court.