Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kapsabet Town.
ONE of the top Kenyan officials suspects in criminal cases currently going on before the International Criminal Court of Justice at The Hague {ICC} was on Monday named during investigations into threats against the family of a witness whose home was attacked and stoned in North Nandi district lat week.
The name of the ICC suspect was mentioned when police in Kapsabet town were interrogating the father of the witness whose house was stoned by menacingly threatening and rowdy youth shouting obscene and abusive slogans against the ICC and The Hague.
The incident forced the family to flee their home and took refugee into the house belonging to their relative in Eldoret Town about 30 kilometers away.
The North Nandi district Criminal, Investigation Officer {CID}Samson Thoya is leading the tem of police sleuths investigating into the matter following a directive by the Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere.
The 65 year-old said several people recorded statements on Monday in connection with threats against the family. The father of the witness told the police that suspect held a fundraising at a nearby church which is close to the witness home and it is t that function where the ICC suspect said the family ha betrayed him.
“Immediately after mention of my family name when, we started receiving messages with threats followed by the night attack,” the man whose name could not be published or security reason and personal safety.
Police Commissioner Iteere has yet to decide whether suspect will be summoned to record statement on the matter.
Members of the family, who met with the officials from the government’s Witness Protection Agency said, they want security to be provided saying the relocation of the family is not enough.
“My son is a grown up and an adult and we had nothing to do with his decision to his and links with ICC issues. We have the right to live in our own home in our country and People must understand that we have nothing to do with ICC issues,” said the 65 year old father.
NGO Council chairman Ken Wafula met with security officials in Kapsabet over the matter. Also present in town and attended the meeting were Provincial Administration officials from the home area of the witness.
“We want to deal with the issue so that those who have been threatening can face the law,” said Wafula.
Last week the Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko officially wrote to the Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere directing him to investigate the matter and provide the family with protection.
In direct that you cause urgent speedy investigation to be carried out into this incident. Statements should be recorded and all persons who may have been involved be interrogated, “said Tobiko’s letter in part.
The DPP letter was also copied to the NGO council chairman Wafula and the Director of the CID Ndegwa Muhoro.The witness is among those who were taken out of the country for protection.
The reported attack in Nandi took place as the confirmation hearing against three of the poll violence suspects are going o at the Hague.
Ends