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ICC witness recalls order to evict Kikuyus

he witness told the judges that vehicles belonging to a popular athlete called Ira and a politician in Rift Valley called Sumbira were also in the convoy from Kimumu, during which a councillor, Samuel Ruto spoke/FILE

he witness told the judges that vehicles belonging to a popular athlete called Ira and a politician in Rift Valley called Sumbira were also in the convoy from Kimumu, during which a councillor, Samuel Ruto spoke/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya Apr 3 – The 15th witness in the ICC case against Deputy President William Ruto and Journalist Joshua arap Sang on Thursday told the court that she saw a vehicle belonging to a former Central Bank Governor in a convoy during which leaders told Kikuyus to return to Othaya.

The witness told the judges that vehicles belonging to a popular athlete called Ira and a politician in Rift Valley called Sumbira were also in the convoy from Kimumu, during which a councillor, Samuel Ruto spoke.

“There were other vehicles in that convoy including the vehicle belonging to Ira, who is a sports person, then there was Sumbira who was the governor and another person, Micah Cheserem,” she said.

The witness explained that the Kimumu Councillor who was in the convoy said Kikuyus should look for vehicles to ferry them to Othaya since ODM had won the 2007 General Election.

“When a convoy passed by, I heard Sammy Ruto saying that the results had been announced and ODM has been declared winner, for that reason Kikuyus must look for vehicles that can take them back to Othaya,” the witness explained saying that she had watched the incident on television.

According to the witness, the people in the convoy were also celebrating saying that ‘Sangari and Madoadoa’ which were the terms used to refer to Kikuyus should go back to Othaya.

The witness explained that Sangari meant that; “we have grass in the Central Province where I come from. When this grass grows it invades the whole place and that plant is very invasive and difficult to uproot. The grass (Kikuyus) had to be removed.”

She further told the court that the threats of eviction of Kikuyus from Rift Valley were actually implemented since property belonging to Kikuyus was looted and their houses burnt by Kalenjins.

“When they told us to return to Othaya they said so by burning our houses that was a way for them to chase us away. They looted our property. You can’t live in an area where there is no peace,” the witness narrated.

She said Kalenjins viewed Kikuyus as people who had invaded their land hence it was time for them to return to their home in Central Kenya.

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The witness also recalled to the court that she saw a person christened as number 3 sharpening a machete by the roadside also repeating the same remarks that Kikuyus should return to Othaya – the home of former President Mwai Kibaki.

The witness is expected to complete her evidence- in-chief on Friday afternoon to allow defence teams of Ruto and Sang to cross-examine her.

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