ICC's Kenya 2007 Poll Case Falls in 'Black Hole' as Gicheru Dies

Paul Gicheru was accused of witness tampering at the International Criminal Court (ICC), after the collapse of a big case on the 2007 electoral violence that involves the newly appointed president - William Ruto. One month later, the ICC closed the case, looking away from the local investigation on the death.

The charges against Gicheru involved the alleged bribing of a number of witnesses in the International Criminal Court (ICC) case against William Ruto who was vice president of Kenya at the time and who was recently elected at the country's president. Gicheru passed away at home on September 26, 2022 after lunching at a restaurant. His son who was with him at the restaurant, suffered abdominal pains but recovered. Questions remain about his death, but the ICC has not voiced its concerns at Gicheru's sudden demise.

The ICC verdict date  was expected to be announced, when Gicheru passed away.

In July 2022, Christopher Koech, a teacher who was said to be in the ICC list of witnesses in relation to the 2007 post-election violence, reportedly died under unclear circumstances after he was admitted to the Kakamega County Referral Hospital, with suspected poisoning.

The Kenya trials collapsed as witnesses recanted testimony. One of those trials was against Ruto, who, while deputy president was defended by Karim Kahn, a man who later became the ICC's prosecutor, reports JusticeInfo.net.