From: ouko joachim omolo
Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News
BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012
ICC-TAKE 1
Last week the talks in Kenya were about Eldoret North MP, Mr William Ruto launching a new party that he believes will take him to State House and Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta with PNU-Alliance, a bus he believes will also taking him to State House.
This week however, the talks are on The Hague, whether the charges against the duo would be dropped come January 23. The school of thought is that should the charges be dropped it would mean that the history of impunity that stretches back to the colonial days will continue.
That is why Kenyans opted for the International Criminal Court (ICC) because Kenya does not have leadership that can deal with them fairly and justly. For example, those who perpetrated ethnic clashes in 1991, 1992 and 1997 have never been punished, including those responsible for extrajudicial killings of hundreds of youths, or those associated with the infamous “Goldenberg” and “Anglo-leasing” corruption scandals.
The ICC will determined whether post election violence was planned as contained in the evidence tendered by the Commission of Inquiry into the Post Election Violence (CIPEV) chaired by Justice Philip Waki.
The evidence is also contained in the Kenya National Commission on the Human Right (KNCHR). According to the report former Agriculture Minister William Ruto held a meeting in August 2007 with other senior Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders in Kipkelion near Kericho to out mass evictions of non-Kalenjins from their homes in the Rift Valley, particularly the Kikuyu and Abagusii.
Uhuru Kenyatta with other Party of National Unity (PNU) on diverse dates during January, February and March 2008 attended meetings to plan for retaliatory violence. The report states that local politicians received support from Kikuyu elite from outside Naivasha to mobilize local jobless youth who were bolstered by Mungiki followers from Nairobi and Central Province.
The KNCHR’s list of ‘alleged perpetrators’ includes six cabinet ministers: Uhuru Kenyatta from President Mwai Kibaki’s PNU, Sally Kosgei, Henry Kosgey, William Ruto, Najib Balala and the late Kipkalya Kones from Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s ODM.
It also included allegations against a bishop and several preachers, Christian and Muslim, some of whom include Rev. Kosgey, a preacher who sometimes preaches on Kass FM, Mr Benjamin Murei, a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church elder. He offered prayers and read a verse from the Bible to the youth attackers in support of the violence and Pastor Isaya Nyongesa in Likuyani for saying that Kikuyus must go back to ‘their’ Central Province.
MP William Ole Ntimama, for warning non-Maasais that they would be evicted from Enoosupukia, according to the 1990s Akiwumi Commission’s investigation into tribal clashes which also accused government administrators of being untruthful and attempting cover-ups. The report argues that the police and security agencies adopted a shoot-to-kill policy, mainly in Kisumu and parts of Nairobi.
According to the report, the late Lorna Laboso M.P, Sotik Constituency would be tried for planning and incitement to violence. She was accused that on the third week of January 2008 that she attended a purported peace meeting at Manaret Society, where she incited local community against the Kisiis.
Franklin Bett, M.P for Bureti Constituency is accused that during a public meeting in Kiptororo in Kuresoi in December 2007, he reportedly urged the Kalenjins to fight the Kikuyus until they leave Molo area.
He is also accused that together with the late Kipkalia Kones and the late Kimutai Too they financed the Kalenjin youths who attacked the Kikuyus and Kisiis in Kericho. He gave them transport, fuel and food and held meetings at Kericho Tea Hotel and other places.
Again, together with the late Kipkalia Kones and the late David Too, they organized and facilitated the youths to be transported from Trasmara and Bomet by Lorries through Silibwet to go and chase Kikuyus from Kuresoi.
It is reported that on the 23rd November 2009 he went to Stagemart in Kericho and addressed a crowd asking residents to remove all the stains/spots (madoadoa) from the region.
In January 2008 while addressing youths Too is reported to have told the youths :”When we tell you to block, make sure you block the road, and when we tell you to remove, make sure you remove them.”
Other inciters include Boaz Kaino MP Marakwet West constituency and Fred Kapondi MP, Mt. Elgon constituency. Kapondi said that Luhyas should be expelled from Trans Nzoia.
Omondi Anyanga MP for Nyatike constituency for participating and funding of violence, hiring of Lorries to loot cereals depot, funding the violence, John Pesa MP, Migori constituency-he is reported to have said at a campaign rally that ‘visitors’ had taken away the businesses of local people). He named the said ‘visitors’ as ‘Oriah’ (understood to mean Somalis, Kikuyus and Kisiis).
Ramadhan Kajembe MP, Changamwe Constituency for hosting a number of people at his home on the day violence erupted. He “commanded” the youth that was looting in Changamwe area.
Chris Okemo, MP, Nambale Constituency- he told the public that he does not want the Kikuyu votes and also intimated that it is the Kikuyu who are barring them from developing themselves. Elizabeth Ongoro MP for Kasarani-supplied money for petrol used to burn down houses and property in Kijiji cha Chewa.
Maj..G en Hussein Ali Police Commissioner-Some police officers under his command as the Commissioner of Police were involved in use of excessive force leading to deaths and injury, some officers were partisans, and others neglected their duties.
Peter Kavila, Wainaina and Njoki and Peter Matu, PPO, Western Province, OCS Malava and two other Officers respectively for excessive use of force shooting and killing peaceful demonstrators, Mr Ngugi, OCS Langas Police Station and officers under his command, Mr Alfred Chepkwony Assistant chief, Chemamul Sub-location in Tinderet, Nandi South for participating in the violence-he was among the attackers on the morning of 31st December 2007.
Mr William Sang, the Chief of Chepkoilel Location near Eldoret for participating and organising the violence-He was seen directing the attackers on 31st of January 2008 at Kimumu. OCS Endebess Police Station for leading a group of police officers and Kikuyu attackers to Turbo area in Endebess on 6th January 2008 at around 11.00 am, shooting and injuring people in the area.
Dr. Jacob Bitok A lecturer at Moi University for organising, planning, funding and participation in the violence- He ferried Marakwet warriors to attack and drive Kikuyu out of Rock Centre in Eldoret and in Kipkaren areas. He was the custodian of the funds collected to finance the violence within Mosop area.
Thomas Cheruiyot Sirikwa Agricultural/ Veterinary Officer in Sirikwa- He threatened the headmaster of Sirikwa Primary School (a kikuyu) and asked him to leave arguing that the school deserved a Kalenjin headmaster. This was during a public meeting convened by the Kamara District Officer held on 27/11/07.
Cheruiyot further reportedly incited the Kalenjin parents to withdraw their children from Sirikwa Primary and Secondary Schools. As a result the Secondary school was reportedly closed down.
Sammy Ng’etich Acting chief for Chemaner Location- he told the Kisiis and the Kikuyus that they must vacate the area whether they like it or not. Sometimes in September 2007, he reportedly held a meeting which was attended exclusively by Kalenjins and the night after the meetings, a group of youths attacked Kamwaura shopping center whereby two people were killed and several houses burnt.
Inooro FM Radio station which broadcasts in the Kikuyu language for incitement via calling programmes, aired highly emotional and distraught victims of the violence- Kameme FM Radio station, broadcasting in the Kikuyu language for perpetration of hate speech, engaging in ethnic propaganda campaign against ODM and the Kalenjins.
Kass FM Radio station broadcasting mainly in Kalenjin languate for incitement and hate speech in its programmes -KASS FM broadcast hate speech and materials meant to incite communities against each others.
Radio Injili station for incitement and hate speech in its programmes- The station broadcast on several occasions material that amounted to incitement. Coro FM Radio station which broadcasts in the Kikuyu language for incitement through its programmes.
Councillor Ochola-Utalii Ward in Kasarani Consitutency and lives in Kijiji cha Chewa, for financing local youth to purchase petrol between 29th December 2007 and the first week of Jan 2008 to make petrol bombs and paying arsonists Ksh 400/day. He also provided food, shelter weapons and transport to attackers.
General (Retired) Koech who contested for the Ainamoi Parliamentary seat in 2007 General Election organised the Kalenjin attackers in South Rift. David Njuguna alias “Zebra”, Councilor for Londiani town ward organized retaliatory attacks against the Kipsigis. He organized youths of the Kikuyu Community to burn down the shops and businesses of the Kipsigis community.
Martin Odhiambo Insurance Broker, Kericho Town, alleged to have financed the violence and supplied youths with petrol to burn homes of members of the non Kalenjin communities, Nyabuti Moseti Businessman provided Matatu to ferry the chinkororo attackers to “defend” Kisiis.
Jack Sokouhuru, a businessman and owns butchery was one of the attackers who were involved in the burning of kipsigis shops, Zebra (alias David Githunguri or Njoroge), Councilor Chepkongoni Ward participated in torching of houses belonging to the Kipsigis Community on 20th of January 2008.
Other inciters include Faruk Kibet, Enoch Sugut, Mr Thomas Koech and Solomon Tilawen, former nominated councilor for Wareng County Council in Eldoret, ODM youth leader and headmaster of Kaptebee Secondary school, CDF Treasurer Eldoret North Constituency, and another ODM activist in Turbo, respectively.
Continues tomorrow—–
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