Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kapsabet Town.
POLICE in Kenya’s expansive Rift Valley Province are maintaining a 24 hours vigil at the home of an ICC witness at the Hague in the Netherlands.
The home is located a few kilometers from this town, which is situated in North Nandi district, about 300 kilometer North-south of the capital, Nairobi.
The witness and his family are currently under protection in an undisclosed location abroad at the expense of the International Court of Criminal Justice {ICC}where six top Kenya government officials are facing confirmation hearing on whether they should stand for trial for numerous offences related to the post-election violence of 2007 and 2008.
The top officials include the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President and the Head of Public Service Ambassador Francis Muthaura, the suspended Minster for the Industrialization, Henry Kosgey, the sacked Minister for higher Education, William Ruto, the Postmaster General and a form Commissioner of Police, Maj-Gen Hussein Ali and local Kass FM Radio station news broadcaster Joshua Arap Sang.
The case has attracted a lot of interests among Kenyans and their friends abroad. Thousands of TV viewers have been following the proceedings at the Hague with keen interests.
Five top police sleuths from the Department of Criminal investigations {CID}visited the home on Tuesday where they collected sample of stones and broken window panes used by the attackers who the locals believes are the supporters of one of the suspect in the Hague criminal cases of violating human rights.
On Monday this week the Director of Public Prosecution {DPP} Kariako Tobiko was reported to have written a letter to the Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere directing him to investigate the matter and provide round the clock security at home.
The DPP ordered to the relevant security agencies to investigate the incident was confirmed by the Council of NGO Council Ken Wafula.who confirmed having receive a copy of the letter said it was also copied to the Kenya’s Attorney General Githu Muigai and the CID Director Ndegwa Muhoro.
The ICC officials operating through its liaison office in Nairobi have also contacted the family of its prosecution witness which was attacked last Friday during the wee hours of the night.
Unknown people suspected to be the youths allied to politicians currently facing prosecution at the ICC in the Netherlands stoned the roofs of houses covered by corrugated iron sheet The threw stones and other missiles on the roof and destroyed window panes while shouting “The Hague the Hague” in the darkness.
The family led by the 65 year old has since fled the home and have sough for refuge with relatives in Eldoret Town. They escaped under the cover of darkness and boarded a matatu van destined to Eldoret Town. No one was injured in the attack.
Officials from the Witness Protection Advisory have also moved to the home and are said to be in contact with the family in Eldoret town. Following last Friday incident the several families whose members are suspected to be connected to the ICC cases as witnesses are said to be living in fear for their safety in the entire North Rift region of Kenya.
The region witnessed the Mayhem that engulfed Kenya following the hotly disputed result of the presidential votes tallying in December 2007 and early in 2008. Close to 1,500 people lost their lives, while close to 350,000 lost their dwelling homes, most of the torched by marauding political goons. Properties worth millions of shilling were destroyed by political thugs.
“I direct that you cause urgent and speedy investigation to be carried into the incident and statement should be recorded and all the persons who might have been involved interrogated,” says Tobiko’s letter in part.
The DPP wants the on the matter forwarded to his office as soon as possible. The Witnesses Protection Advisory {WPA} says it is considering the possibility of a preliminary stop-gap intervention or protection of the family.
The Attorney general through his state law office public relations officer Dominic Onyango promised he will work with the ICC liaison office in Nairobi on the issue to ensure that justice is done.
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