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Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome now says he cannot be intimidated by a letter written to International Criminal Court (ICC) by Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition.

Addressing a press conference at his private residence on Sunday, April 16, the IG said the letter was just mere “propaganda” being pushed by a politician who has personal interests.

“I will not be intimidated by the letter, and I want to tell my officers not to be intimidated by the letter.

“We vowed to serve our country and we don’t have another country,” he said.

He said the politician, whom he did not name, started by sending the former head of Public Service Francis Muthaura to ICC after the 2007/2008 post-election violence and he has been ‘targeting Merus’ since then.

“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 matters,” he added.

Azimio’s accusations against Koome

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.

“The squads are reported to be dressed in plain clothes, to operate outside the normal command structure, and to take direction directly from select commanders appointed for that purpose by Japheth Koome,” Azimio said.

The coalition also said that Koome abrogated the constitutional rights of its members by unconstitutionally and illegally banning the demos.

Azimio added that the police IG threatened its members with death and physical injury should they attempt to exercise the said rights.

Azimio also claims that there were deliberate attempts by the police to assassinate its leader Raila Odinga on April 3, 2023, at around the Pipeline area of Embakasi South Constituency.

“On 3rd April 2023 at 1630 hours, at around the Pipeline area of Embakasi South Constituency in Nairobi City, a contingent of police officers approached the motor vehicle in which the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition party leader Raila Odinga was being ferried in and fired approximately ten round of live ammunition with a clear intention to kill him.

“A report of the attack was made the next day and a complaint lodged the same day but no action was taken. Prior to this assassination attempt, the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya had publicly
stated that it was necessary that Raila Odinga be “dealt with” and “removed” permanently,” Azimio said.

Azimio also blamed Koome for the invasion of the Kenyatta family farm and the attack on the Odinga family gas plant.

“The suspect Japheth Koome has acted as a conspirator in a widespread attack organized by leaders of the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition against the properties of the leaders of Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition party by withdrawing police protection form such property prior to the attacks and refusing to act on any complaints against officers suspected to have been active facilitators of such attacks.

“On Monday, March 27, 2023, a gang of young persons mobilized by political leaders of the Kenya Kwanza coalition invaded the development known as the Northlands City property owned by the family immediately former President Uhuru Kenyatta and destroyed property and made away with livestock.

“On the same day, another attack was also staged by another gang of young persons also mobilized by Kenya Kwanza coalition leaders at a company that makes gas cylinders called East Africa Spectre Limited, belonging to the family of Raila Odinga.

“At the time of the attacks, Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga were the Chairman and Party Leader respectively of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition party and were openly blamed by the political leadership of Kenya Kwanza including by the President and Deputy President of financing and mobilizing the demonstrations of members of the Azimio coalition,” Azimio said.

Azimio also accused Koome of killing and maiming demonstrators.

The coalition noted that Kenya submitted itself to the jurisdiction of the ICC being a party to the Roman Statute that established the court.

Azimio, therefore, called on the ICC prosecutor to submit its petition to the Pre-Trial Chamber for authorization of an investigation into the said crimes.