‘We will report DP Gachagua to ICC for planning to assassinate me’ – Raila

By , K24 Digital
On Sun, 16 Apr, 2023 16:09 | 2 mins read
DP Rigathi Gachagua
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. PHOTO/ Courtesy

Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga has revealed that plans are underway to report Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for allegedly planning assassinations of top opposition leaders.

Speaking at Kamukunji grounds, Raila also revealed that Azimio was planning to report police officers who used excessive force during Azimio anti-government protests.

"We are taking Rigathi Gachagua's name to ICC tomorrow," said Raila.

"We are not mad men who want to see bloodshed in our country. We also have children, mothers and fathers. We want Kenyans to be united; if they have refused, then it is up to them," he said.

This comes moments after Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome was reported by Azimio to the ICC for allegedly orchestrating violence and committing crimes against humanity during Azimio protests.

In response, Koome accused Azimio of targeting the Meru people in ICC cases.

"That letter is being incited by a certain politician. It started with Muthaura, he was taken there and now it is me. Why are they targeting Meru people? Let us stop this tribal matter," Koome said.

Azimio's letter to ICC

In the letter to ICC, Azimio, through its legal representative Paul Mwangi, said Koome sanctioned the "maiming and shooting" of peaceful protesters during the demonstrations organised by the opposition.

"This communication states that during the protests, the Inspector General of the National Police Service Japheth Koome ordered attacks on the supporters of Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition party that resulted in deaths and injuries, and ordered indiscriminate arrests all which were part of widespread and systematic attack on persons known or suspected to be members, supporters or sympathisers of Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition party who are identified by their political affiliation contrary to Article 7 (1) (h) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (“the Rome Statute”) , to wit, Crime against humanity of persecution," the letter read in part.

Azimio further accused Koome of committing eight serious crimes.

The coalition claimed that the police IG established a special squad of rogue police officers to unleash terror on its supporters during the demos.