Former ICC suspect and ex-radio presenter Joshua Arap Sang has ignited a firestorm of controversy after threatening legal action against a critic who accused him of involvement in the notorious 2007/08 post-election violence (PEV) in Kenya.
Sang, now serving as the Director of Public Communications in the Office of the Chief of Staff, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, promising to drag a X (formerly Twitter) user Nyamisa Chelagat to court for what he termed “unsubstantiated allegations.”
Sang shared a screenshot of his direct message to Chelagat, declaring, “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 bold challenge quickly backfired, sparking a rapid-fire exchange that saw the public rally around Chelagat.
In a cheeky response, Chelagat invited Sang to the ICC, writing, “Lol. Let’s meet in ICC. Na usiniDM till January. Niko sherehe please.”
Notably, prominent figures joined the fray, asserting their positions against Sang.
Humanitarian lawyer Betty offered to provide documented evidence detailing the ICC’s findings, including 40,000 reports of sexual assault during the violence.
Activist Hanifa Adan challenged Sang, urging him to follow through on his legal threats, while lawyer Ndegwa Njiru affirmed pro bono support for Chelagat should Sang make good on his claims.
The backlash highlighted the enduring scars of the PEV, which left over 1,100 dead and hundreds of thousands displaced. Kenyans expressed outrage on social media, with many mocking Sang’s threats as futile and reminiscent of the very behavior that led to his indictment.
Sang, who previously claimed innocence, stated in an interview back in 2010, “I went on air to request my listeners to be calm and embrace peace during the time when violence had engulfed the country.”
However, after the ICC dropped the charges against him and former Deputy President William Ruto in 2016, many still remember his controversial past.
