Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio party, has said that he will take Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to the International Criminal Court over an alleged murder attempt.
Raila stated on Sunday during an Azimio demonstration at Kamkunji grounds that Gachagua deployed police personnel who fired eleven shots at his car during major protests on March 27 and 30.
“Gachagua is an accused person; we are taking his name to the ICC this week; he said he wanted to finish me once and for all,” Raila said.
During the protests, civilian officers threw tear gas towards the ODM leader’s car, and as he dove to avoid being struck, bullets were fired.
“We’re taking Gachagua to the Hague, along with all the other officers, we have all their names, the officers are being used by the State,” Raila said.
On April 14, Azimio wrote to the International Criminal Court, requesting that it launch an investigation into Kenya’s current situation. Lawyer Paul Mwangi identified nine complaints in a letter to the Dutch-based Court, including deliberate attacks on protesters. It was presented in accordance with Regulation 25 of the Prosecutor’s Regulation.
The attorney also identified nine protestors who he claimed were slain by police on March 27 as well as eight local journalists who he claimed were hurt during the riots. In the letter to the ICC, he also mentioned that 20 additional demonstrators had suffered injuries.
During the Azimio protests, Raila has repeatedly claimed that police tried to kill him. He first claimed it on March 21 when he said that on Monday, March 20, shots were fired at his car and the car of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, but they managed to escape unscathed.
Raila also asserted that his car was shot at seven times on March 30 during large-scale demonstrations.