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It has been over twelve years since the Rwandan genocide and many of the perpetrators remain at large, including Félicien Kabuga.
For many years it has been suspected that Félicien Kabuga, Africa's most wanted genocideur, is living in Kenya. In June, Alex Keter, Kenya's ambassador to Rwanda, denied these claims. Last week, however, belief of Kabuga's presence in Kenya was renewed with reports that a former police reservist named Epaphras Waweru Muthoko wrote a letter to Mwai Kibaki, Kenya's president, insisting that Mr. Kabuga was alive and well in Kenya and under the protection of senior security officials. This was, in fact, Mr. Muthoko's second letter to the president regarding this matter. "I want to share the Kabuga story with you, Mr. President, so that swift action can be taken to arrest him instantly," wrote Muthoko, while also detailing the suffering he has endured on account of opposing Kabuga's stay in Kenya. Félicien Kabuga was an influential businessman who used his wealth to outfit the Interahamwe, a violent Hutu militia, who massacred thousands of innocent Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Few gangs in history have banded together to act with such swift brutality. In only 100 days they contributed significantly to the death toll of over 800,000 Rwandans. Mr. Kabuga purchased vast amounts of machetes, hoes and other agricultural tools for the Interahamwe, fully aware that they would be used to hack men, women and children to death. For these and other cold-blooded calculations, he has been indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) for genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the Geneva convention. Mr. Muthoko says he is now in exile and fears for his life. He claims that other reservists who have shared information regarding Kabuga's whereabouts have been 'eliminated' and is certain he is being trailed. Mr. Muthoko also believes he is one of the few surviving targets among police reservists who know of Kabuga's presence in Kenya and that the clique protecting Kabuga are hardliners in the Kenyan system who are unknown to the president. Despite the tribulations caused by his letter and his knowledge, Mr. Muthoko remains adamant that "There's no amount of intimidation that can make me stop telling the world the truth. I serve no man and I am sure the God I serve will do something to restore justice in this situation." According to the ICTR agreement, member states are bound by an international obligation to assist in bringing all tribunal suspects to justice.
The copyright of the article Félicien Kabuga in Kenya in North African Affairs is owned by Sean Sinclair-Day. Permission to republish Félicien Kabuga in Kenya in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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