NAIROBI, Kenya Apr 1 – Family, friends and colleagues of International Criminal Court (ICC) suspect Joshua arap Sang on Thursday raised Sh3.8 million to help him meet legal fees and other expenses while in the Netherlands.
The fundraiser was graced by among others suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto who is also among those summoned to The Hague next week.
"I am sure the challenges that Sang and the rest of us are going through are very temporary… very shortly we will have a bigger reason to celebrate," he said.
"Let me say on his behalf and on behalf of all of us thank you very much for your support and prayers and in many ways you have gone out of your way to stand with us," he told guests who attended the Thursday night fundraiser.
Earlier in the month Mr Sang wrote to the ICC asking for assistance in meeting his travel, accommodation and legal expenses as he attends summons at The Hague based court on April 7.
Mr Sang who is among six suspects facing indictment by the International Criminal Court said he could afford an air ticket to travel to the Netherlands, and wanted the court to meet his expenses.
"I cannot afford the amount of money required to travel to The Hague. I am told a return ticket is about Sh120, 000 per person… that is a lot of money for me at the moment," he said in an interview with Capital News last month at the Kass FM offices.
"I just paid my school fees at the university because I have examinations in April. It is not possible for me to raise air ticket and accommodation (monies) that is why I am asking the ICC to help me," he said and disclosed that he had already written to the international court asking for the financial assistance."
At the same time, the suspended minister described the presenter as a \’thoroughly innocent person who is going to The Hague as a victim of his successes.
Mr Sang is accused of responsibility in the 2008 post election violence alongside Mr Ruto and Tinderet Member of Parliament Henry Kosgey who also served as the Industrialization Minister.
Others summoned to The Hague are Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Head of the Civil Service Francis Muthaura and former Police Commissioner Hussein Ali.
The Eldoret North MP recounted how he broke the news to the presenter hours before ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo announced the list of suspects.
"By virtue of my position, I managed to get to know about the list a day before it was actually announced. I remember I called him again and I went round and round and finally I told him that I think this list has issues," he said.
Mr Ruto added: "I am really happy, that he has been very courageous about this, because I didn\’t know how he would take it and I was worried that this very short man can disappear if he gets to know that things are elephant."
At the fundraiser, Belgut MP Charles Keter lashed out at ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga saying that he had abandoned Mr Ruto, Mr Sang and ODM Chairman Henry Kosgey who were his key lieutenants in the run up to the 2007 polls.
"It\’s unfortunate the people we were working together in all the campaigns are now angels, we voted for Raila Odinga 100 percent, I just watched him address the business leaders of Kenya, and he was saying that when people are taken to The Hague this country will continue as if it was nothing. I just looked at him and said he needs prayers," Mr Keter said.
A previous fundraiser held over the weekend in Eldoret in aid of the Kass FM presenter raised Sh500, 000, with another Sh1 million from his employer.
Mr Sang put up a paid advertisement in the daily newspapers titled: \’In Support of Arap Sang\’, where he appealed for financial support.
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