Ruto, Sang demanded youths freed after poll chaos

The 27th witness in the case said Ruto who spoke in Kisumu said the detained youths had helped them to block roads during the violence/FILE

The 27th witness in the case said Ruto who spoke in Kisumu said the detained youths had helped them to block roads during the violence.

“Sang was also putting pressure that our youths need to be released, that is our condition to the government,” the witness alleged.

“What was Mr Ruto saying?” Trial Attorney Lucio Garcia asked.

“He was in a meeting in Kisumu he was actually saying that youths should be released; they are the ones who had helped us with blocking the roads and yet they are suffering, they should be released,” the witness responded.

The witness told the court that there were also other politicians calling for the release of the youths.

According to the witness, the remarks were made after the formation the coalition government between former President Mwai Kibaki and ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The witness earlier told the court that Sang was a manipulative speaker who had power to influence political decisions of his Kalenjin community.

He told the court that during his Kass FM show, he allowed speakers to spread hate messages against the Kikuyu community.

He said he used to listen to Sang as early as 2005 when Kass FM was launched.

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According to the witness, Sang urged Kalenjins to be united and also praised Ruto as the leader of the Kalenjin people through his interaction with his Kalenjin listeners.

“Sang is a good speaker, he can manipulate, he can change the mind of the people when he talks, that is how he can use his talent to make people change,” the witness said but also mentioned another Kalenjin speaking radio station which he said was also allowing use of hate speech and inciting Kalenjins.

The witness said that he heard Sang on radio telling Kalenjins that nobody loved them and urged them to stay united in order to be strong and defend themselves.

Defence teams of Ruto and Sang began cross-examining the witness on Wednesday afternoon.

About The Author

JUDIE KABERIA

Judie, an Associate Editor has worked as a journalist in Kenya and Germany. She has a Master’s Degree in New Media, Governance and Democracy, University of Leicester (U.K). She has scooped 10 journalistic awards. She has participated in international conferences in Germany, Switzerland, United States and Netherlands. Judie has written a booklet, ‘Justice and Peace in the Kenyan Eye’. She has a soft spot for human rights, crime, peace and justice stories.

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