ICC Judges Hear of ODM's Pre-Poll Plan to Cause Chaos

Ishmael · 2014-03-04T23:57:21+00:00

A witness Tuesday narrated how Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders prepared the ground for the December 2007 post-election violence in the North Rift. Prosecution witness 442 at the International Criminal Court (ICC) gave accounts of how the leaders including the party's presidential candidate Raila Odinga, the then national chairman Henry Kosgey and councilors organised meetings in which they asked the local people to reject "the rule by one tribe". She also narrated how broadcaster Joshua Sang used the Kalenjin radio station, Kass FM, to rally the community to reject the proposed Constitution in 2005. The witness started testifying yesterday against Deputy President William Ruto and Sang. She recalled of an alleged meeting of ODM delegates at Kipchoge Stadium in Kapsabet where she claimed Kosgey told the crowd in Kiswahili," Wakikuyu wakipatiwa nafasi ya kutawala tena watatukojolea (if Kikuyus are given another chance to rule they would urinate on us). The meeting was held between September and October 2007. Raila is also said to have allegedly told the gathering amidst cheers thus: "Tuungane sisi wote tutoe utawala wa kabila moja. Iwapo watajaribu kuiba kura wataona Tsunami (we should unite and remove the rule by one tribe. Should they try to rig, they will see Tsunami.)The witness told the Trail Chamber V(a) that after the remarks, the name Tsunami became a common phrase among the Kalenjin, Luo and Luhya.He said although Ruto also spoke at the meeting, she did not hear what he said.Secret meetingsShe explained how local councillors held several secret meetings before the elections discussing ODM politics and the polls.She testified that as campaigns heightened, the civic leaders openly said the Kikuyu would be removed from the area. The witness, a non-Kalenjin speaker, said aftervoting, she went home and listened to Kass FM where she heard Sang warning listeners to be on the look out for any attempt to steal votes. She said after the counting of the votes, Sang sounded angry as he announced that the votes had been stolen."He said Kibaki had stolen votes in some parts of the country and making other commentaries about the rigging," she told the court. The witness also alleged that Sang used Kass FM to campaign for the Orange camp during the 2005 referendum and even hosted studio guests who included Raila, Ruto and even then opposition leader Uhuru Kenyatta. Earlier, the court allowed an application for the witness to be given extra protection. Hearing continues. - The Standard

Thread starter Ishmael
Start date Mar 5, 2014

Ishmael

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ICC Judges Hear of ODM's Pre-Poll Plan to Cause Chaos

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