According to a police officer on Tuesday, Kenyan authorities have opened an inquiry into the death of a lawyer accused of buying off and intimidating witnesses in the International Criminal Court (ICC) case against President William Ruto (September 28).
Paul Gicheru was charged by ICC prosecutors with organizing a “blatant and prejudiced” conspiracy to tamper with witnesses in order to prevent investigations into Mr. Ruto for his suspected involvement in the post-election violence in Kenya in 2007 and 2008.
The 50-year-old lawyer was discovered dead in his sleep on Monday night at his home in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
The Hague’s trial for Mr. Gicheru got underway in February. The attorney allegedly threatened others, including one at gunpoint, and bought witnesses with up to one million Kenyan shillings (equivalent to 8,300 euros).
Before the ICC, which is based in The Hague, Gicheru pleaded not guilty in response to the accusations.
“The information we have from his family is that he had a meal and then went to bed but did not wake up,” a police officer who requested anonymity told AFP.
“An investigation is underway to determine the cause of his death,” the officer said, adding that Gicheru’s son was taken to the hospital after complaining of stomach pains after sharing the same meal.
The Kenyan Human Rights Commission urged authorities on Twitter to “conduct a prompt and conclusive investigation” into the cause of death while expressing “concern over this shocking news.”
After the 2007 elections, post-election violence in Kenya resulted in more than 1,300 fatalities and 600,000 displaced persons between late 2007 and early 2008.
Due to his alleged involvement in the violence, the ICC dismissed its case against then-President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2014. Kenyatta was suspected of committing crimes against humanity.
The case against Vice President William Ruto and radio host Joshua Arap Sang, who were charged in the same case, was then dismissed in April 2016.
Deputy Prosecutor James Stewart stated in 2016 that Gicheru had “established a mechanism to identify, find, and corruptly influence” witnesses in the prosecution of William Ruto and Joshua Sang.
According to the prosecution, Mr. Gicheru’s activities caused four important witnesses to retract their statements.
Before being elected president last August, William Ruto worked as Uhuru Kenyatta’s deputy for nine years. He then defeated Raila Odinga in the election.
