Former International Criminal Court (ICC) suspect Joshua Arap Sang has stirred up significant online controversy after threatening to sue a critic over claims he was involved in the infamous 2007/08 post-election violence (PEV). Sang, who previously worked as a radio presenter and now serves as the Director of Public Communications in the Office of the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, found himself at the center of an online storm after the exchange with an individual named Nyamisa Chelagat on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, December 21, 2024.
The issue began when Chelagat accused Sang of participating in the 2007/08 PEV, a period marked by widespread violence and ethnic clashes following the disputed presidential election in Kenya. In response to these allegations, Sang posted a direct message to Chelagat on X, warning her of legal action. He stated, “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.”
This comment, coupled with a screenshot of the private conversation, quickly went viral. Chelagat, undeterred by the legal threats, shared their conversation on her own social media page. She responded to Sang’s message with mockery, saying, “Lol. Let’s meet in ICC. Na usini DM till January. Niko sherehe please.” Her casual response only served to escalate the online drama, prompting a flood of reactions from other users on X.
The online debate soon gained traction as Kenyans flocked to social media to voice their opinions. Many sided with Chelagat, criticizing Sang’s threats as a desperate attempt to silence his critics and deflect attention from the allegations of his involvement in the violence. Some users even revisited the PEV, with fresh discussions about Sang’s role in the on-air hate speech that fueled violence during that time.
One prominent voice in the debate was George T. Diano, a well-known X personality, who took a direct aim at Sang. Diano accused the former radio presenter of inciting violence during the 2007/08 crisis, suggesting that Sang’s broadcasts led to the deaths of innocent civilians. “Aren’t you the same person who was telling our people to chase away Kikuyus in Rift-Valley & kill those who resist?” Diano wrote. “Some of us are Kalenjins here & we know how you influenced the death of innocent women & children.”
Sang responded by challenging Diano to provide audio evidence of the alleged incitement, offering to present himself for prosecution if such recordings existed. However, the public backlash against Sang continued to grow throughout the day, with many accusing him of using his new position of power to intimidate those who questioned his past actions.
The criticisms weren’t limited to ordinary citizens. Lawyers and former legal professionals who had worked with the ICC during the investigations into the post-election violence also joined the conversation. One X user, identified as Betty, expressed her frustration with Sang’s defiance. “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!” Betty’s comment underscored the deep-seated anger many feel toward those implicated in the PEV.
This latest online confrontation has brought attention back to Sang’s controversial past. As one of the key figures accused of inciting violence during the 2007/08 PEV, his trial at the ICC alongside other suspects was a highly publicized event. Although the case against him was eventually dropped in 2016 due to lack of evidence, many Kenyans continue to view Sang’s involvement in the violence with suspicion.
The online exchange serves as a reminder of the lingering scars left by the 2007/08 violence and the unresolved issues surrounding accountability. With the court threat looming over Chelagat, it remains to be seen whether the legal battle will materialize or if the online outcry will have a lasting impact on Sang’s career and reputation.
