Politics in Kenya

So, I have been meaning to write a comprehensive blog on the political undertakings within Kenya but I figured this is the best way to let you all know the current events.

In August, Kenya promulgated a brand new constitution - YAYYYYY!!!!!! This is something to be celebrated everywhere - a country with a history of crooked politicians and corrupt officials succeeded in the first step towards justice and equality nationwide.

With the help of new truth commissions and official investigations from the International Criminal Courts (ICC), many of Kenya's corrupt leaders are being taken out. One by one, government officials and honorable MPs (member of parliament) are being publicly accused and institutionally suspended for reasons such as monetary corruption and even involvement with the 2007 post-election violence that killed more than 1,200 Kenyans, thousands more injured, over 300,000 people displaced and around 42,000 houses and many businesses were looted or destroyed. A significant number of cases of sexual violence were also reported.
CLICK HERE - to read a report on the post election violence in 2007

William Ruto is the Higher Education minister and has been suspended due to multiple fraudulent charges currently on the move through the high courts.
CLICK HERE - to read the announcement of Ruto's suspension
CLICK HERE - to watch a video of the announcement of Ruto's suspension

Not only is Ruto fighting these charges, he is also an alleged perpetrator in the post election violence. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights research and produced "On the brink of the precipice: A human rights account of Kenya's post-2007 election violence" in which Ruto is held accountable for planning, inciting and financing the violence. During the research, over 1,000 statements were taken from witnesses to ensure proper documentation of the knowledge behind the planned acts.

Ruto, in his inevitable plunder, pointed fingers at the KNCHR claiming that the Commission coached and paid witnesses in order to single out certain politicians. He specifically alleged one of our Commissioners, Hassan Omar Hassan (whom I work directly with - hes a GREAT guy and a SPECTACULAR lawyer) claiming that Hassan paid these witnesses from his own pocket and has produced this report for his own political clout. The witnesses Ruto speaks of are in a witness protection program therefore he has now raised issues of security for key witnesses the KNCHR has helped find safety. Unlike the US, there is no concrete program or process to relocate witnesses whose safety is of the utmost importance. Therefore, taking care of these people was under the KNCHR's mandate as a way to protect their human rights and make sure they were properly taken care to ensure their truthful testimonies are heard. These witnesses are key to putting the corrupt politicians behind bars.
CLICK HERE - to watch a video of Ruto's allegations of KNCHR paying witnesses


Ruto went to the media, after he returned from an unsuccessful journey to clear his name with the ICC, and made these allegations. The KNCHR calmly fought this battle with water and professionally responded to Ruto's desperate attempts to blame someone besides himself.
CLICK HERE - to watch a video of the public statements shared between Ruto and the KNCHR
CLICK HERE - to watch a video of the KNCHRs response to Ruto

The media in Kenya has really taken this story to another level. Since the allegations, some of the witnesses who gave their statements have come forward to the newspapers and TV stations to claim the legitimacy of Ruto's statements regarding the coaching and bribing of said witnesses.
READ THIS!!! - the latest story regarding all of this drama

UPDATE:
CLICK HERE - to read the latest story and statement from KNCHR regarding bribery claims
CLICK HERE - to watch the latest video with reaction statement from KNCHR regarding witness perjory

**During all of this I was able to sit in on the press conference, view a commission properly handle a political move against them, watch the media take information and spin the messages as well as view all of this with an international eye. I am really going through great experiences over here.**