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1-14 January 2015

Media Monitoring Report for Kenya
Posted on January 18, 2016

Compiled by Pierre-Philippe Turnbull

1. Kenya  and the ICC – a new threat to the Rome Statute
Privately Owned Media

Rift Valley governors accompany Ruto to The Hague (Daily Nation, independent Kenyan-based paper, January 12 2016)

  • North Rift Jubilee governors have bowed to pressure to show solidarity with Deputy President William Ruto in his case and gone to The Hague, Netherlands.
  • There had been perception that some governors were not showing solidarity with Mr Ruto over the cases, but with elections approaching, there appears to be a change of heart.
  • Even MPs not travelling with Ruto seem to show their support for the accused

Deputy President William Ruto departs for The Hague (Daily Nation, independent Kenyan-based paper, January 11 2016)

  • Mr Ruto and former radio journalist Joshua arap Sang will attend the hearing of the no-case-to-answer motion at the International Criminal Court
  • Many MPs accompanied him to the airport to show support.
  • Trial in The Hague starts January 19 2016.

It is make or break for Ruto as he seeks to stop ICC case (Daily Nation, independent Kenyan-based paper, January 9 2016)

  • Mr Ruto is tentatively set to depart for The Hague on Monday night accompanied by a big-powered team of Cabinet Secretaries, MPs, senators and governors to listen to his application seeking the dismissal of the charges he faces alongside former radio personality Joshua Arap Sang.
  • The hearings will start next January 19 and will run until January 22.
  • Mr Ruto and his co-accused Mr Sang will be required to attend the court in person during the four days the judges will hear their application of a no-case-to-answer motion.

Landmark ruling due in Ruto ICC case on recanted evidence (Capital FM, Kenyan-based radio station, January 1 2016)

  • the International Criminal Court (ICC) Appeals Chamber is soon expected to make a landmark ruling on application of Rule 68 which is likely to strengthen or weaken the prosecution’s case against Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua arap Sang.
  • Trial Chamber V (a) which is hearing the case against Ruto and Sang allowed Bensouda to use primary evidence of five witnesses who had recanted their evidence under Rule 68.
  • The decision elicited legal and political dissatisfaction with the court being accused of violating an agreement made during the 12th session of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) in 2013.
  • Many countries such as Kenya, Uganda, and Namibia, have been opposed to Rule 68.
State Owned Media

Ruto, Sang motion begins at ICC (K­enyan Broadcasting Corporation - KBC, State-Owned Radio Station, January 12 2015)

  • The International Criminal Court trial Chamber begun hearing the no case to answer motion Tuesday entered by the defense of Deputy President William Ruto and former radio presenter Joshua arap Sang.
  • The hearing will be concluded on January 22 2106.
  • Besides teams the no-case to answer hearings, the ICC appeals chamber Judges are expected to deliver its judgment on the appeal against use of recanted evidence in the Kenyan case.

Church leaders optimistic Ruto will be vindicated in ICC case (K­enyan Broadcasting Corporation - KBC, State-Owned Radio Station, January 10 2015)

  • Support for Ruto is growing in Kenya
  • A section of Church leaders have expressed confidence that a case facing Deputy President William Ruto and his co-accused Joshua Sang at the International Criminal Court at The Hague will be dropped.
  • Methodist Church in Kenya Presiding Bishop Joseph Ntombura expressed confidence that their case will collapse the same way President Uhuru Kenyatta’s did.
  • Elsewhere, Majority leader in the National Assembly Aden Duale is defending Deputy President William Ruto against criticism from the opposition that he is using public money to woo and host delegations from different parts of the country.

 

2, Security Threat 

Death, destruction as chaos erupt at the border of Kisumu and Nandi counties over rampant cattle theft (Daily Nation, independent Kenyan-based paper, January 8 2016)

  • Three people were killed on Friday and schools closed indefinitely as communities living on the border of Kisumu and Nandi Counties clashed over rampant cattle theft.
  • Youth wielding bows and arrows, slings, makeshift shields, machetes and spears engaged in a confrontation at the sugar plantations while police officers deployed to quell the situation seemed to have been overwhelmed.
  • Residents of the area say the problem started on Friday mid-morning after youth from Kisumu went to recover some five animals that were stolen on Thursday night.
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