The reopening by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) of a probe into the post-election violence of 13 years ago has sparked furious reactions from Deputy President William Ruto’s allies.
Yesterday, DCI boss George Kinoti announced that 118 cases related to 2007/08 killings and displacement of people by attackers were under investigations.
Mr Kinoti did not disclose the regions where the witnesses who have recorded statements came from, only explaining they had received new threats and that the government was determined to curb a recurrence of the violence during the 2022 General Election.
“The chore mandate of the police is to stop, deter and disrupt violence from happening and so when we received the reports of renewed threats, we went to the ground for about two weeks to listen to the victims and advised them to record statements,” said Mr Kinoti. From the mission, 118 cases were filed by yesterday — 72 homicide, 44 of forceful displacement of persons from their homes and the rest related to gender-based violence, mostly gang rape.
He defended the latest probe, arguing that past efforts had failed to prosecute those responsible for the killing of 1, 200 people and displacement of thousands others during the violence following the disputed re-election of President Mwai Kibaki, which was challenged by opposition candidate Raila Odinga.
“This does not mean that no arrests were made from the violence; in some cases, only about seven perpetrators were arrested from a group of 30, and we’re asking ourselves where the 23 are. If we have means to get the 23 to make sure that everyone who perpetrated this heinous extremism faces the law, then we shall go for the 23. We don’t close criminal cases,” Mr Kinoti explained.
The surprise development comes 10 months after Mr Ruto in an interview with NTV alleged a plot by a “cabal,” a group of powerful people in government, to revive the crimes against humanity case linked to the poll violence against him at the ICC.
“I had a discussion with the Director-General of NIS late last year and for your information, there are characters who have already sent characters to Kenya to resuscitate the ICC cases against me. They’re even set to file cases in Kenyan courts,” Mr Ruto said at that time.
Yesterday, Mr Kinoti explained the cases will be tried locally as he announced that recording of statements will be followed by a meeting with Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, and Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, after which detectives will move to areas that were mostly affected by the violence.
“I can for sure tell you that the entire criminal justice system will stand with the tears and cries of the victims and you’re going to see it happen the moment we begin presenting these cases to court.”
Bearing burn marks and scars, the victims who turned up to record statements recounted their painful experiences. Wallace, a resident of Njoro, who suffered a deep cut in the head, said he has been constantly dealing with rampant cases of livestock being stolen from his farm and threats of his property being burnt.
“My hope is, this time a solution shall be found and we shall have a permanent solution to this recurring problem,” he said.
But the DP’s allies claimed the DCI’s actions were a political hatchet job for those keen to stop Mr Ruto from succeeding President Kenyatta.
“The statement by DCI is a desperate move by the system after failing in all their efforts to bring down the DP. They want to incite violence against communities in Rift Valley, and especially Eldoret, to weaken the DP’s political strength in Mt Kenya region,” Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen claimed.
“DCI was not formed the other day; it was here in 2007/08. You can’t come 13 years later to allege some people who participated in 2007/08 violence are walking free or some people are sitting on grabbed land. As a governor, I’ve not heard of anyone who has been threatened.”
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi claimed: “These people have hit the dead end, they are now trying to use anything to bar DP from vying come 2022…as leaders from Rift Valley, we’re still asking if indeed they want the case to be reopened, why can’t they revive all, why are their focus only in Dr Ruto’s political bastion, more so North Rift? We know these are wishes of Kieleweke.”
Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah claimed the move sought to shore up failing Building Bridges Initiative fortunes.
Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, cautioned: “The re-opening of post- election violence cases on account of threats to individuals must be interrogated.
“When it was convenient, the State set up a task force, which found no evidence to prosecute anyone in the 2007/08 violence. Have they discovered they were wrong after all?”
