The lawyer representing victims in the International Criminal Court (ICC) case against Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto said Tuesday's dropping of charges was disappointing and urged the prosecution to appeal.
"There is no doubt that this will come as a disappointment for victims," Wilfred Nderitu told reporters in Nairobi. "It is my hope that there will be an appeal by the prosecutor."
Nderitu also called for a long-delayed "trust fund" to compensate victims to be established.
"I hope the plight of the victims will not be forgotten in the midst of this," he said.
Over 1,100 people died and more than half a million were uprooted in the politically-motivated tribal violence that followed a disputed election in late 2007.
On Ruto's home turf in Kenya's Rift Valley -- the site of some of the worst of the election violence -- there were celebrations as residents took to the streets of Eldoret in joy waving placards reading "Free At Last", "No Case To Answer" and "The Power of Prayer".
"This is a big day for us, Ruto is finally free," said Margaret Rotich.
"This is confirmation of what the power of prayers can do," said Eldoret governor and Ruto ally Jackson Mandago after charges of crimes against humanity levelled at the deputy president and his co-accused radio DJ Joshua Sang were dropped by ICC judges on Tuesday.
A parallel ICC case against President Uhuru Kenyatta was also dropped in December 2014. Kenyatta said he was "delighted" with Tuesday's decision.
"This moment is long overdue but no less joyful," he said.
Drowned out by the loud celebrations were the many victims who have not see justice done nor are likely to.
"What the ICC should now tell us is who was behind the post-election violence," said Rogers Mwai, who was forced from his home by the fighting and now lives in an informal settlement outside Nakuru town.
"If it wasn't Ruto and it wasn't Uhuru (Kenyatta), then who was it? Thousands of Kenyans died, many of us lost our homes, our places of business, our property and eight years later, we have seen no one take responsibility," he said.