By James Wafula in Nairobi
Azimio opposition leader Hon Raila Odinga leads demonstrators in Nairobi
By James Wafula in Nairobi
Veteran Kenyan opposition leader and former prime minister Raila Odinga has now moved to the ICC court alleging a plot to kill him. Odinga claims he was almost killed as he led street demonstration protesting high cost of living and demand to open servers of August 9 2022 elections.
Addressing a charged crowd at Nairobi Kamukunji grounds Sunday April 16 2023, Odinga claimed that a female police woman who opened fire at his motorcade at Jacaranda grounds had intended to kill him. “She fired more than 10 live bullets at me and it was by Gods grace I survived” Odinga said claiming he had information that the deputy president Rigathi Gachagau was behind the scheme. Although both the government of President William Ruto and opposition Azmio have set up 7 member team to hold talks after two weeks of chaotic demonstrations in Nairobi and Kisumu, Gachagau insists he and the president will not hold any direct talks with Odinga until he recognizes President Ruto! At various opposition rallies he has addressed, Odinga has referred to the president as “Mr. Ruto” later amended to “honourable Ruto” when the president agreed to hold talks and requested that demonstrations be called off! In his detailed letter to ICC and the media, Odinga alleges a systematic scheme hatched to infiltrate Azmio demonstrations and “assassinate key leaders including him.” He claimed that night meetings had been held in houses of key Mount Kenya leaders who have mobilised hundreds ofn youth who are to be armed! Odinga alleged the plotters would use GK vehicles and an ambulance would ferry the weapons!
Ruto was declared winner of the August 9 2022 duel, one of the most closely contested election in Kenya or indeed Africa, but Raila moved to the supreme to petition the result claiming there was rigging in the final tallying at the Bomas of Kenya. But the supreme court of 7 judges chaired by chief justice M/S Martha Koome unanimously trashed Odinga’s case as “hot air” full of fabrications and manipulated 2017 video evidence clearing the way for Ruto to be sworn in as Kenya’s 5th president. This was thanks to a massive vote tally from Mount Kenya region the home-turf of retired president Uhuru Kenyatta! A disbelieving Kenyatta who had assured his “handshake heir apparent” Raila that the presidency was his for the taking, handed over the symbolic sword of power to Ruto at Kasarani stadium watched by more than 20 African heads of state and mammoth crowd of Kenya Kwanza supporters. Kenyatta sat pensively, barely able to compose himself as Ruto, a man he repeatedly derided as unfit to succeed him, openly reversed many government decisions in his swearing in speech even before he stepped in the office! President Ruto on day 1 wrecked Kenyatta’s Naivasha inland port scheme directing it back to the Mombasa port, and ordered 7 “rejected” judges to be sworn in the following morning! Now even as Raila writes to ICC, many watchers are warning he could be shooting himself in the foot if he resumes street demonstrations and people die.
Many political watchers say Odinga is “time barred” and should have opposed the court petition then, not wait for 6 months after a president has been dully sworn into office. Claims of an elaborate scheme to harm opposition leaders is likely to raise eyebrows at ICC where cases of Ruto and Kenyatta collapsed 2014- 2016.
The two men had been accused of funding, organizing and coordinating attacks relating to the 2007 -08 post election chaos that left 1350 dead and displaced 650,000. But witnesses later recanted video evidence as others mysteriously vanished leading the cases to collapse but then ICC chief prosecutor Fautou Bensuda had vowed to re-open the cases if she got new evidence. Bensuda has long since retired like earlier Mario Ocampo, justice for victims of the 2007-08 election violence apparently dashed. A former lawyer for President Ruto at the Hague Karim Khan was appointed chief prosecutor■
