Kibaki, Raila are the masterminds of post-election violence, says Angwenyi
The collapsing of cases at the International Criminal Court against Deputy President William Ruto and Journalist Joshua Sang was welcomed with profound joy by leaders and residents from Gusii region.
They felt the cases had undermined the sovereignty of the country and derailed development.
Among the leaders from the region who burst into celebration after ICC Judges dropped the cases two weeks ago is the Kenya National Library Services (KNLS) Chairperson Samuel Nyangeso.
Nyangeso had traversed the whole region (Kisii and Nyamira counties) leading his counterparts from other Parastatals to solicit for prayers from the clergy and faithful across all denominations.
Speaking on Saturday at Kiamoiro SDA church in Bonchari sub-county during thanks giving ceremony for the withdrawal of the cases, Nyangeso said it was time for Kenyans to embrace reconciliation and forgiveness.
“We welcome the ICC ruling over cases against our DP and journalist. The opposition castigated and referred our prayers as ‘street prayers’ but God has finally answered us. We thank Him for the wonderful answer,” he said.
The former Mayor of the defunct Kisii municipality added: “We don’t need to cling to the past but embrace reconciliation and unity."
"We are aware the government has put proper mechanisms in addressing issues related to PEV. We ask it to engage affected persons and all Kenyans in dialogue in order to create harmony and unity in the country.”
Kisii governor James Ongwae, his deputy Joash Maangi, former CIC chairperson Charles Nyachae, MPs; Stephen Manoti- Bobasi, Jimmy Angwenyi-Kitutu Chache North, Richard Tong’i-Nyaribari Masaba, Zebedeo Opore-Bonchari and Education CS Fred Matiang’i congratulated Ruto for winning the case.
“I join Kenyans in celebrating the collapsing of ICC cases against DP Ruto and his co-accused. We are happy as Omogusii community,” said Maangi, who is an ally of Ruto.
Speaking at Kionyo SDA church in Bobasi constituency during a fund drive, Nyachae challenged religious leaders to pray for the country for peaceful co-existence.
“We should pray for our President and his Deputy because we ascended them to power. The incidents we are experiencing are likely to tear our country apart,” Nyachae said, referring to chaos that ensued recently when President Uhuru Kenyatta was addressing the joint parliament on the state of the nation.
Tong’i added: “Our people were affected by post-election violence. The government should now embark in settling all IDPs.”
Angwenyi alleged the accused persons were charged falsely: “The masterminds of PEV were former President Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga. They should have been held responsible for the aftermath in the 2007 elections because they were the presidential contestants.”