Paul Gicheru, a Kenyan attorney who was charged with witness interference at the International Criminal Court ICC, has passed away, according to his family and the police, who verified the news to local media.
Gicheru was reportedly discovered dead on Monday night at his residence in Nairobi, the country’s capital.
In relation to the post-election violence in Kenya in 2007–2008, which resulted in more than 1,000 deaths, Mr. Gicheru was accused of paying witnesses to testify against President William Ruto. He has however denied the allegations.
Five years after the ICC issued an arrest order for the attorney, in November 2020, he turned himself in to the court.
According to the prosecution, Ruto’s argument in court was damaged by the accusations made against him. During the post-election unrest in Kenya, Ruto was accused of murder, expulsion, and charges of persecution, all of which he has always rejected.
Lack of evidence led to the ICC’s decision to dismiss its case against him. Even though “facts are still emerging,” a Kenyan rights organisation urged the police to “perform swift and conclusive investigations” into the incident.
Eight counts of offenses against the administration of justice had been brought against Gicheru. If found guilty, he could have spent up to five years in jail or paid a fine.