JOSHUA ARAP SANG: Former ICC Suspect Receives Harsh Online Rage
Former International Criminal Court (ICC) suspect and ex-radio host Joshua Arap Sang has enraged Kenyans by threatening to sue a critic who he believes accused him of involvement in the infamous 2007/08 post-election violence (PEV).
Sang is presently the Director of Public Communications at the Office of the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service.
He took to his X account on Saturday, December 21, to attack a critic going by the pseudonym Nyamisa Chelagat, promising to take her to court in January for bringing unfounded charges about him.
1/ 🧵 Joshua Arap Sang: The Voice That Incited a Nightmare
— Nyamisa Chelagat (@Nyamisa_Chela) December 20, 2024
Kenya’s 2007-2008(PEV) claimed over 1,100 lives, displaced many, and left deep scars. At the center was a radio host turned alleged instigator. Here's the chilling story of how words unleashed horror.
He went on to publish a screenshot of his own warning sent to her via the X platform’s Direct Message function.
For others to learn a lesson of wrongly accusing people, this one must meet me in court in January so that she can present the evidence she alleges I participated in the 2007/8 PEV. pic.twitter.com/v0IcUVefTA
— Joshua Arap Sang (@JoshuaArapSang1) December 21, 2024
“For others to learn a lesson of wrongly accusing people, this one must meet me in court in January so that she can present the evidence she alleges I participated in the 2007/8 PEV,”
he posted.
Chelagat, too, took to her X account to publish her private discussions with the former radio host, appearing to casually welcome his legal threats while also telling him off.
The back and forth between the two rapidly enraged Kenyans on X, with many expectedly siding with Chelagat and some going so far as to recall the bloody 2007 PEV battles once more.
In their brief interaction, Sang tells her: “We meet in Court in January. Have all you (sic ) evidence ready…” to which she replies, “Lol. Let’s meet in ICC. Na usiniDM till January. Niko sherehe please.”
Sang, a rare X user, was subjected to a storm of insults by thousands of displeased Kenyans.
Many criticized him for his ‘idle’ threats, with some even requesting evidence linking Sang to the on-air hate crimes committed during the gloomy post-election period.
“Aren’t you the same person who was telling our people to chase away Kikuyus in Rift-Valley & kill those who resist?” Popular X personality George T. Diano wrote.
Aren't you the same person who was telling our people to chase away Kikuyus in Rift-valley & kill those who resist. Some of us are Kalenjins here & we know how you influenced the death of innocent women & children. Hiyo vitisho baridi peleka kass fm you bloody midget.
— George T. Diano (@georgediano) December 21, 2024
“Some of us are Kalenjins here & we know how you influenced the death of innocent women & children. Hiyo vitisho baridi peleka Kass fm you bl**dy midget.”
Sang was quick to reply, writing, “I would love to get that audio evidence, then I will present myself to court for prosecution asap.”
As the day passed, the attacks appeared to be relentless, coming from all directions and aimed just at Sang.
Lawyers and previous legal experts who worked for the ICC at the time also spoke out against the former Kass FM broadcaster.
X user Betty said, “I worked with the ICC special rapporteur at the time, happy to provide acres of documented victim statements collected, including 40,000 reports of sexual assault, 1900 reports of police shootings and 180,000 displaced persons over and above YOUR own recordings of your show!”
Joshua Arap Sang, once accused of inciting slaughter, is now the Director of Public Communications in the office of the Chief of Staff, appointed by President William Ruto—his co-accused from the ICC trials.
— Ndegwa Njiru Adv. (@NjiruAdv) December 21, 2024
The reappointment of Joshua Arap Sang has led to resurfacing of alot Post Election Violence anger by Kenyans
— Moe (@moneyacademyKE) December 22, 2024
Thread below https://t.co/spNz9Ba4LR
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Joshua Arap Sang was the head of Kass FM, a Kalenjin-language radio station in Rift Valley, western Kenya, where he hosted a morning show called “Lene emet” (What Is the World Saying).
According to the ICC, Sang was a prominent supporter of the opposition party led by Raila Odinga and used his station to “gather supporters and convey signals to members of the plot on when and where to attack.
On December 16, 2010, Sang told the Daily Nation that he was astonished to be included among the suspects.
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“As a matter of fact, I went on air to request my listeners to be calm and embrace peace during the time when violence had engulfed the country,” Sang told the paper.
However, in April 2016, the International Criminal Court withdrew the charges against then-Deputy President William Ruto and Joshua Arap Sang.
Chile Eboue-Osuji, Olga Herrera Carbuccia, and Robert Fremr, justices of the Hague-based court, determined that Mr. Ruto and Mr. Sang had no case to answer.
The judges cited political involvement as one of the reasons for dropping the allegations.
JOSHUA ARAP SANG: Former ICC Suspect Receives Harsh Online Rage
