Renowned Human Rights Activist Dies

Renowned Kenyan activist, Ken Wafula, who was also the Director at the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (CHRD), is dead.

Mr Wafula passed away on Wednesday morning while undergoing treatment at St Luke Hospital, Eldoret.

He had been admitted on Tuesday at the hospital after suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes.

Programmes Officer at the center Kipkorir Ngetich confirmed this incident indicating that Mr Wafula had been well until last Saturday when he complained of feeling unwell.

Mr Wafula was popular in 2013 during the International Criminal Court (ICC) where he came out as an avid supporter of the ICC cases against Deputy President William Ruto and radio presenter Joshua Arap Sang.

[caption caption="Ken Wafula"][/caption]

He launched a vocal crusade against the 2007/2008 political violence and maintained a firm stand that the offenders bear the greatest responsibility for the crimes committed and must be punished.

Nonetheless, in 2015, he made a surprising u-turn when he asked the Hague-based court to drop the charges against the duo who he claimed should not be charged based on fabricated evidence.

He stated that a revelation by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria that witnesses were procured and coached had affected his views, principles, and position on the ongoing cases at the Hague-based court.

"I am aware and understand the provisions of the Rome Statute.

"I apologise to both the DP and Sang if indeed forces within the Government pre-determined and coached witnesses that I have participated in ensuring their protection," he stated.

[caption caption="Ken Wafula"][/caption]

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