Deputy President William Ruto gave close to Sh1 million to be
shared among Kalenjin youths during a cleansing ceremony following the
post-election violence in 2008, ICC judges heard on Wednesday.
At
the same time, the 26th witness claimed Mr Ruto’s co-accused Joshua
arap Sang used Kass FM to incite violence against the Kikuyu community
by playing war songs, and giving airtime to politicians who spoke in
their mother tongue to sow hatred.
The witness in the
case against the two at the ICC claimed that a bull was slaughtered
during the ceremony at Embuko forest in Eldoret to cleanse the youth of
any curse associated with the 2008 violence, in which 1,133 people were
killed.
The witness, who gave his evidence via video
link from Nairobi, said he attended the ceremony in which Mr Ruto sent a
team of youths led by a Mr Farouk Kibet, who he said handed the cash at
the function.
“I was there and was among the 3,000
youths, who received Sh300 each, which we were told was Mr Ruto’s thank
you message to the Kalenjin youth for standing together during the hard
times during the violence.”
On cross examination by
prosecution lawyer Anton Steynberg, the witness said it was Kalenjin
culture that those who engaged in violence should be cleansed by the
elders to remove any curses that may have befallen them.
He
said the youths from Eldoret East and South, Ndanai and neighbouring
Nandi were divided into groups, depending on where they came from, to
receive the money.
“Mr Kibet said Mr Ruto had sent him
with a little money as a sign of appreciation for the unity shown by the
Kalenjin people during the violence,” he said.
Asked
why he attended the meeting yet he had not participated in the violence,
the witness said he feared repercussions of being seen not to be
cooperating with the community.
At the same time, the
witness said Kalenjin leaders used Kass FM, and in particular, Mr Sang’s
radio programme to incite the people.
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