Washington address: Ex-DP Rigathi Gachagua vows to take Ruto to ICC over killings, abductions

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has confirmed that he has set up a special team to collect evidence in preparation for filing a case against President William Ruto at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Speaking during a meeting with Kenyans in Seattle, Washington, on Friday, Gachagua claimed that the killings, abductions, and disappearances reported across the country amount to crimes that fall under the jurisdiction of the international court.

“I want to confirm that I have put up a team that is documenting all the atrocities, the killings, displacements, disappearances, and abductions taking place in Kenya,” he said

“We have a team that is putting evidence together to take William Ruto to the ICC at The Hague,” Gachagua added.

The Former Mathira MP explained that Ruto’s previous ICC case, related to the 2007 post-election violence, was not closed but merely suspended due to the disappearance of key witnesses.

Gachagua said this time, his team is determined to ensure all evidence is intact and witnesses are protected so the case can proceed to its conclusion.

“The ICC file for William Ruto was not closed; it was just put on hold. This time, we are preparing everything thoroughly so he can face the consequences,” he said.

Gachagua argued that the current state of insecurity in Kenya has left many citizens living in constant fear and said this is unacceptable in a country that claims to uphold democracy and the rule of law.

His remarks come in the wake of a deadly crackdown on protesters during the Saba Saba demonstrations.

According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), the number of confirmed deaths has climbed to 38, with at least 130 others injured.

The commission has so far conducted 15 post-mortems, of which 14 confirmed the victims died from gunshot wounds.

KNCHR Vice Chairperson Dr Raymond Nyeris revealed in a statement on Friday that the fatalities occurred in various counties, with Kiambu leading at eight deaths, followed by six each in Nairobi and Kajiado, four in Nakuru, three each in Murang’a and Kirinyaga, two each in Embu, Laikipia and Meru, and one each in Nyamira and Nyandarua.

“Four of the dead are female, two are children, while the majority of those already identified are youth below 25 years. Out of the 15 postmortems conducted so far, the majority (14) died from gunshot injuries, including a 12-year-old girl who was shot while watching TV at home in Kiambu,” said Dr Nyeris.

In light of these developments, Gachagua urged Kenyans abroad to rally behind the push to hold Ruto accountable, both politically and legally.

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“That is a battle that I would like to invite you to help in. We have no other recourse to save our country other than sending Ruto home. We must all play a role, you cannot be silent, you must play a role in the liberation of our country,” he said.

Gachagua is currently on a tour of the United States, where he is mobilising support for his Wantam agenda and efforts to challenge Ruto’s leadership on an international front.