Jubilee, CORD in heated exchange over DP Ruto’s ICC fixing

The Jubilee coalition is challenging opposition chief Raila Odinga to record a statement at the International Criminal Court, exonerating Deputy President William Ruto from allegations of planning and funding the 2007/08 post election skirmishes, if he believed he was fixed by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his allies.

Led by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, the MPs claimed Odinga was trying to drive a wedge between Kenyatta and Ruto and scuttle the Jubilee coalition ahead of the 2017 polls.

But CORD lawmakers insist Kenyatta, through his lieutenants Moses Kuria, Nancy Gitau and Mutea Iringo procured and coached witnesses to fix Ruto at the ICC.

“It is Raila who said Ruto and Uhuru belong to Kamiti Prison, let alone being elected President and deputy,” said Duale.

MP Kimani Ichungwa said: “Those who were demonstrating were chanting no Raila, no peace”, adding that at no point was either President Kenyatta or DP Ruto mentioned.

The former Prime Minister had in his statement dismissed as baseless, claims that he fixed Ruto at the ICC, terming him a comrade and a key ally in ODM, who diligently negotiated on behalf of the orange party, leading to the formation of grand coalition government.

CORD parliamentarians challenged Kenyatta to come clean on the woes facing his deputy at The Hague.

“Uhuru Kenyatta, the person, cannot claim to be ignorant of what was being done by his own employees and disciples like Moses Kuria, Nancy Gitau and Mutea Iringo,” said ODM chair John Mbadi.

Odinga has declined to record a statement with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations as instructed by Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko, after Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria linked him to procurement and coaching of false ICC witnesses to fix Ruto at The Hague.

Duale argues that “it is high time Raila recorded a statement. It has taken long for him to come out and admit that Ruto was fixed. If he doesn’t record a statement, it means he wants to continue fixing Ruto.”

The ICC cases were a key factor in the 2013 General Elections and remain a contentious political issue even as Kenyans prepare for the 2017 polls.

ODM MP Opiyo Wandayi accused Jubilee of engaging in diversionary tactics after realizing its secrets were now in the public domain.

“The chickens have come home to roost. They are engaging in a diversionary tactic, they have realized they worked so hard to ensure Ruto’s case ran the full course and sensing an unfavourable ruling, they are trying to mitigate the effects in Ruto’s backyard,” said Wandayi.

And as the two leading political coalitions face off on who fixed who, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda says she would not be drawn into speculation on how investigations were carried out but warned that appropriate legal action would be taken on any person attempting to obstruct justice.