ICC prosecution witness disowns video on Ruto’s coronation

Deputy President William Ruto talks with his wife Rachel outside the International Criminal Court, Wednesday.  [PHOTO: TABITHA otwori/STANDARD]

By MWANIKI MUNUHE

The ninth prosecution witness in The Hague-based court Wednesday disowned the video that was alleged to have been captured when Deputy President William Ruto was made the king of the Kalenjin community.

While being cross-examined by Joshua arap Sang’s lawyer Katwa Kigen, the witness said he had mixed up two events and the video played in the court on Tuesday was not similar to the events that took place when Ruto was alleged to have been made a king.

The witness said although there was a day when Ruto was declared both king and spokesperson, that video has not been played in court

The witness was speaking a day after he submitted to the court that the video played on Tuesday captured events that took place when Ruto was allegedly declared the king of the Kalenjin community.

“I have realised I mixed up two different functions – making Ruto a king and declaring Ruto a presidential candidate,” he said.

The witness submitted to the court that he could not remember exactly when the two events took place.

Hate messages

Similarly, the defence team opened the cross-examination by seeking to poke holes into the prosecution evidence to the effect that Sang used his radio programme as a platform to spread hate messages against people who did not support the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party in the run-up to the 2007 presidential elections.

Sang’s lawyer played audio records at various intervals, which appeared to contradict what the witness had indicated to be the journalist’s conduct in the 2007 presidential campaigns.

The witness had on Tuesday indicated that Sang spoke ill of politicians who did not support ODM, the party led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

But Katwa played sections of audio records of Sang’s morning show in which the journalist is heard indicating that no political party would be given preferential treatment.

“Mr witness”, said Katwa, “you will also confirm from the audio record that Mr Sang does not give preferential treatment to any political party?”

“Yes, I confirm,” said the witness.

On Tuesday, the witness said Sang also used abusive language against callers who did not support ODM.

But before the defence council commenced cross-examination, the witness told the court that there was nothing in the name of Kalenjin Council of Elders until after 2007.

Further, the witness said it was not clear how the Kalenjin Council of Elders was constituted because people were not invited to take part in constituting it.

According to the witness, Ruto was appointed the council’s spokesman while Jackson Kibor, Major John Sumbeiywo and John Koech, among others, were members of the council.