Big blow to President William Ruto following the death of his ICC lawyer Paul Gicheru

 

Paul Gicheru, a Kenyan lawyer, passed away on Monday at his home in Karen, Nairobi. His age was 50.

Gicheru became well-known after the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, accused him of paying off witnesses who testified against him in 2020.

In the unsuccessful case brought by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against President William Ruto, he was charged with bribery and influencing witnesses.

Then who was this Paul Gicheru?

In Nandi County, Paul Gicheru was born in 1972. Before attending the university and earning a law degree, he attended Kapsabet Boys High School. He then continued to the Kenya School of Law to get a post-graduate credential.

Gicheru started his legal career in Eldoret at Kalya and Company Advocates. Later, in Eldoret, he founded his legal practice, Gicheru and Company Advocates.

On March 31, 2010, the ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber II gave the Prosecutor permission to look into the political unrest that broke out in Kenya after the elections of 2007 and 2008.

Later, on March 10, 2015, a secret arrest warrant was obtained against Paul Gicheru and Philip Kipkoech Bett. On September 10, 2015, the request was made public.

Gicheru turned himself into Dutch authorities on November 2, 2020, following an arrest warrant for offences against the administration of justice, including corruptly manipulating court witnesses.

After the required national procedures were finished on November 3, 2020, Paul Gicheru was released into the custody of the ICC before appearing in court for the first time on November 6, 2020.

On July 15, 2021, the Chamber affirmed the allegations against him, adding that Mr Gicheru collaborated with others to sabotage the prosecution of William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang.

Gicheru entered a not guilty plea to the allegations levelled against him, and on June 27, 2022, the prosecution and defence each made their last arguments.

The chamber has not yet announced whether Gicheru will be found guilty or not before his death.