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No one ‘fixed’ Ruto over ICC – Duale

Deputy Leader of the Minority Coalition Jakoyo Midiwo, Ugenya MP David Ochieng and Endebbes MP Robert Pukose challenged the Majority Leader to clarify claims that senior government officers hatched a plot to 'fix' Ruto/FILE

Deputy Leader of the Minority Coalition Jakoyo Midiwo, Ugenya MP David Ochieng and Endebbes MP Robert Pukose challenged the Majority Leader to clarify claims that senior government officers hatched a plot to ‘fix’ Ruto/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 13 – Leader of Majority Coalition in Parliament Aden Duale has denied claims that senior government officials coached witness to implicate Deputy President William Ruto over the 2007-8 post election violence.

Deputy Leader of the Minority Coalition Jakoyo Midiwo, Ugenya MP David Ochieng and Endebbes MP Robert Pukose challenged the Majority Leader to clarify claims that senior government officers hatched a plot to ‘fix’ Ruto.

“There’s nobody in government who coached (witnesses) and fixed Ruto. We don’t want this matter to be political. URP and TNA are more united than ever before. There’s nobody in government who has fixed either Hon Ruto or Hon Kenyatta,” the Majority Leader told the House.

“The campaigns we went through were on the basis of who sent who to The Hague. We want him to be clear on this, we can’t have a leader who flip-flops,” Midiwo had charged.

“They have been saying that Raila (Odinga) fixed Ruto and he has just said now that no one fixed Ruto. Can he confirm right now that Raila never fixed anyone?” posed Ochieng.

Jubilee’s Deputy Majority Leader in the Senate Charles Keter and Elgeyo Marakwet Kipchumba Murkomen (both Ruto allies), over the weekend accused senior government officials who are serving in the Jubilee administration of having fixed Deputy President Ruto to face charges at the International Criminal Court.

“All politicians should speak only when they are sober, particularly over the weekend. It depends on where you slept and where you have been. Let’s speak with sobriety so that we give the right message to the country,” said Duale.

He was taken to task after he told the House that the government is not aware of civil societies planning to cause civil disobedience in the country.

Duale was responding to queries by MPs Rachael Shebesh and Timothy Bosire, who sought to know measures the government is taking to deal with reports that some lobby groups and politicians were planning demonstrations in support or against the ICC cases.

“They say they will organize people to block the airport, so that the President does not go to The Hague and the President has not even responded that they were making very dangerous statements,” said Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire.

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Juja MP Francis Waititu added that he was willing to resign if President Uhuru Kenyatta honours his date with the International Criminal Court.

“I am on record as stating that I not only lead a demonstration to block his way but I will resign from this Parliament if an elected President will go to The Hague,” said Waititu.

Suba MP John Mbadi insisted the threats to block the runway at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport had security implications.

“Is this talk of demonstrations a scheme by the government to create a picture of possible instability in the country so that to justify the request by the AU to the United Nations Security Council to defer the cases that affect two of the Kenyans at the Hague?” asked Mbadi.

Duale said Kenyans were free to go to the airport, but they are not allowed to disrupt operations.

He added that runways are off-limits to unauthorized people, and that the government will deal with anyone who trespasses the secure zone.

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