Writes Bob Ndira Uradi In Edloret Town
FRESH panicking mood has gripped this fast growing farming town I the North Rift following the revelation by newspaper reports that the International Criminal Court at the Huge is keenly following events related to a court case in which the area MP William Samoe Ruto is involved in another legal tussle in a case connected to land grabbing from an internally displaced person.
Local media house reported on Tuesday this week that Ruito is again on spot following revelations of his acquisition, owning up and controversy surrounding a piece of 100 acres of land allegedly grabbed from an internally displaced person.
The report revealed that the International Criminal Court has stepped in to acquaint itself with a court case that pits Ruto against an IDP over a large tract of land which the MP had acquired after post-election violence.
Ruto supporter in this town could be seen engaged in low tone discussions in groups while looking visibly wearing worrying faces. On of them intimidated that more case of similar nature against their MP could sprung up in the near future.
The newspapers had reported that the ICC head of investigation has formally written to the government of Kenya on behalf of the Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo.
In the letter addressed to the Internal Security Minister Prof. George Saitoti dated March 22, the ICC Head of Investigations Division Mr Michael De Smedt had noted that they had learnt of the existence of a civil case between one Andrew Gilbert Muteshi and William Ruto over a land dispute.
According to a report appearing in the Kenya’s most influential and authoritative, the STANDARD, the Internal Security Minister has sine forwarded the letter to the Kenya’s Attorney general Githu Muigai seeking to have the Ruto case file for onward transmission to the ICC.
Smedt had said the case might contain information that is relevant to Ocampo’s investigations into conduct of Ruto during the period of post-election violence of 2007/2008.
“The OTP hereby request the assistance of the competent authorities of the Republic of Kenya to transmit the following documents,” he added.
According to the ICC request, they want to be furnished with a copy of the full civil case file containing all documents filed in the case between Muteshi and Ruto concerning the disputed land in Uasin Gishu district.
Ocampo is also reported as seeking copies of the new or additional documents that would be added to he case file subsequent to the execution of this request.
Mr Smedt promised that all information given to the prosecutor’s office would be dealt with confidentially.
“In accordance with Article 87{3} of the Rome Statute, the competent authorities of Kenya are requested to keep the request for assistance and any supporting documentation confidential except to the extent that disclosure is necessary for the execution of the request,” Smedt added.
Smedt further appealed to the Kenyan government to treat the matter with the utmost urgency so as to facilitate investigation by the prosecutor’s office.
Last week, Ruto beat a hasty about- turn following an earlier pledge he had made to return the 100-acre piece of land he allegedly acquired illegally from Muteshi.
The abrupt change of heart occurred after the MP and the IDP failed to agree on certain conditions.
The case is now set to go to full hearing paving way for tabling for details on how Ruto acquired the land Kaptebei Settlement Scheme in Turbo area in 2008inside Ruto’s parliamentary electoral area.
Also on Monday last week Muteshi who was allegedly forcibly evicted fro the piece of land, told the court that Ruto who had agreed to surrender the land and relinquish the title deed for the property he bought from a woman said he was not ready to accept that he acquired it illegally.
Muteshi had indicated through his lawyer Antony Lubulelah that he would only accept the property back if Ruto also catered for the expense he had incurred filing the case.
Due to failure to record an agreement before the High Court Judge Lady Justice Rose Ougo as ordered two weeks ago, the Judge ordered the matter to be heard on April 25 and 26.
RUTO had prior to court brief appearance during which he had his accused were expected to sign the formal settlement agreement had convened pre conference and tired to put up a spirited defensive words how he had acquired the piece of land and detailed account of the transactions. But legal experts were quick in cautioning hi against putting up his defense via the media instead of making them before the court.
Ruto’s supporters have expressed fear that the particulars contained therein the civil case could furnish the ICC with fresh ammunition with which the ICC prosecutor could use during the forthcoming trials at The Hague with which the court could justify the claim that Ruto ha caused illegal eviction of people from their farms and homes during the post-election violence.
Ends