DP Gachagua responds to Azimio after ICC threats
By Francis Muli, April 19, 2023Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has responded to Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga, who has vowed to report him to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Speaking in Kamkunji Ground on Sunday, Raila alleged that Gachagua had planned assassinations of top opposition leaders.
“Gachagua is an accused person, this coming week, we are taking his name to ICC, he said that he wanted to finish me once and for all,” Raila said.
However, Gachagua now claims that he was “defending his boss”, which “does not amount to crimes against humanity”.
“Azimio are threatening to report me at the Hague, I don’t know how defending your boss can be a crime against humanity. They have been in the streets for many years they don’t even think well. How can defending your boss and his programs become a crime to be reported at the Hague,” Gachagua said.
“Any problem they have with anybody the solution is the ICC, please defend your bosses.”
Azimio reports IG Japheth Koome to ICC
This comes days after Azimio wrote a letter to The Hague-based ICC court, accusing Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome of orchestrating violence and committing crimes against humanity during Azimio protests.
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 claimed that the police IG established a special squad of rogue police officers to unleash terror on its supporters during the demos.