ICC witness who was set to testify mysteriously dies in Kakamega
ICC witness, Christopher Koech who was set to testify dies under unclear circumstances in Kakamega.
Christopher Koech was a potential International Criminal Court (ICC) witness in the lawyer Paul Gicheru’s case.
However, Koech who was a teacher at Khaunga Primary School in Mumias in Kakamega, died under unclear circumstances after he was admitted to the Kakamega County Referral Hospital.
According to the school Principal Benson Wabuyabo, Koech suddenly became ill on Saturday, July 16.
The daily reported on the demise of a potential International Criminal Court (ICC) witness who was a teacher in Kakamega. Christopher Koech, who taught at Khaunga Primary School in Mumias, died under unclear circumstances after he was admitted to the Kakamega County Referral Hospital when he became suddenly ill.
The teacher reportedly went to school on Saturday, July 16, on his motorbike and spend about an hour before he left hurriedly for an unknown destination.
Principal Benson Wabuyabo said that Mr. Koech had complained of a slight headache when he arrived at school on Saturday morning and was advised by colleagues to see a doctor.
“He didn’t look that bad and was at the school for about an hour and then left on his motorbike. We had advised him to take some painkillers to relieve the headache,” said Mr. Wabuyabo.
He was later found lying on the side of the road next to his motorbike near Shibuli market.
He had foam in his mouth and was sweating profusely, raising suspicion of poisoning.
He was taken to the hospital but his condition was reported to have worsened on Saturday night before he died on Sunday morning.
ICC witness
Human rights activists in the North Rift region confirmed that Mr. Koech was an ICC witness but had recanted his statement in relation to the 2007/2008 post-election violence.
“The teacher is among ICC witnesses who lived in fear after recanting their statements,” Mr. Koros said.
He demanded independent investigations into the death, noting that many ICC witnesses had lost their lives under unclear circumstances.
“The government needs to be more serious in offering protection to individuals who cooperated with the ICC team,” appealed Mr Koros.
At one point, he was under witness protection and even sought refuge in the neighbouring country.
Koech was set to travel to Hague to testify in lawyer Paul Gicheru’s case.
Gicheru was accused of bribing witnesses in Deputy President William Ruto’s ICC case leading to its collapse.
However, family members said they were unaware that he was an ICC witness, noting that he had not discussed the matter with them.
“He did not disclose to us if he was a witness at the ICC and that he planned to travel out of the country,” said Mr. Leting when asked about the ICC connection.
A postmortem examination is set to be conducted to establish what caused his death.
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