Three former military and police officers were Friday named as the commanders of a military wing formed to kill and evict PNU supporters from the Rift Valley during post-election violence.
The prosecution indicated that they would present evidence showing that Eldoret North MP William Ruto was the “most influential Kalenjin leader” and Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey “an all-time Kalenjin leader”.
The allegations have already been denied by Mr Ruto, Mr Kosgey and a third suspect, broadcaster Joshua Sang while making initial statements on Thursday. (Read: Ruto hits at Ocampo case as shoddy, biased)
The prosecution painted a structure full with a political, media, financial, elders and military component led by Mr Ruto and Mr Kosgey.
The military component was divided into the North Rift command headed by Gen Cheruiyot, Central Rift commanded by Mr Cherambos and South Rift of Gen Koech.
Maps distributed indicating areas heavily inhabited by Kikuyus. It was now Kenyans versus the Kikuyus, Mr Ruto is alleged to have remarked.
The meetings allegedly took place at Mr Ruto’s Sugoi, home in Eldoret North, Nandi District, at Mr Cherambos’ home and at various political rallies and meetings in Uasin Gishu and Nandi districts.
In all, eight meetings were held in the lead up to the December 2007 elections which, according to the prosecution, triggered killings in Turbo, Kapsabet, Nandi Hills and Eldoret Town.
The court went into camera for the first time to receive evidence prosecutor Cynthia Tai said was confidential.
Mr Cheramboss is one of Mr Ruto’s witnesses who are likely to take the stand on Saturday.
On the other hand, General (rtd) Koech is entangled in a bitter fight with Mr Ruto over the leadership of the United Democratic Movement.
The MP has indicated that he intends to run for the presidency on the party’s ticket.
Mr Luis Moreno-Ocampo outlined that the alleged network had five main pillars.
These, according to the prosecutor, were politicians led by Mr Ruto and Mr Kosgey, businessmen who provided money to buy weapons and pay attackers, the former security chiefs, media and elders.
Eldoret North MP William Ruto’s defence against charges of crimes against humanity holds that Kenya’s 2007/2008 was not planned. Ruto’s defence lawyer David Hooper took the floor soon after the prosecution finished outlining its evidence against three suspects it claims to bear the greatest culpability on Kenya’s post-election violence that left 1,300 dead and 600,000 homeless following a disputed presidential election at the end of 2007. NTV’s John-Allan Namu who is at The Hague reports.
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