‘Police were given clear instructions to execute protesters’ – Azimio

Opposition leaders have now claimed that the police were given clear instructions to execute innocent citizens demonstrating against the high cost of living.

The leaders claimed that the instructions were given at a meeting in State House when President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua met Kenya Kwanza MPs on Saturday on how to counter the Azimio street protests that began on Wednesday.

Led by National Assembly Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), the lawmakers instead called on the International community and its agencies to take a keen interest in the Kenyan situation terming it ‘genocide in the making’.

“What is of utmost concern is the unprecedented levels of police brutality. There could have been a plan of execution of police killing Kenyans in broad daylight. We are asking the international community and its agencies to take a serious note with a view to holding to account those responsible for these heinous acts,” Wandayi said.

Wandayi further asked the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to launch investigations impartially, professionally and charge the perpetrators of police brutality on unarmed demonstrators.

Yesterday, on the second day of street protests called by Azimio, Wandayi, Sam Atandi (Alego), Anthony Kibagendi (Kitutu Chache South), Dr Wilberforce Oundo (Funyula), Anthony Oluoch (Mathare) and Senators Godfrey Osotsi (Vihiga), Beth Syengo (nominated) and Hamida Kibwana (nominated) called for a stop of arbitrary arrests and abduction of leaders.

Their plea comes after Babu Owino (Embakasi East), his Kilifi South counterpart Ken Chonga and Kilifi County Assembly Speaker Teddy Mwambire among others were arrested and have not been charged in a court of law.

“The Kenya Kwanza regime has suspended the constitution which is why they are arresting and abducting the people without taking them to court within 24 hours as stipulated in law. The right to assembly, to picket and to demonstrate is enshrined in the constitution,” Osotsi said.

“We are seeing clear ingredients of international crimes-crimes against humanity. We are now seeing unlawful arrests and abductions of leaders allied to Azimio. There is no law that allows the police to hold any person for more than 24 hours and incommunicado,” Wandayi said.

According to Wandayi who is also the Orange party Director of Political Affairs, the continued incarceration and detention without trial is making some Kenyans political prisoners.

“We have written to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to take note of the happenings in Kenya. We would not be here if we have not written to them,” Wandayi stated.

On Wednesday, Opposition Chief Raila Odinga sensationally claimed that Kenya Kwanza had revived and properly resourced a killer squad named Operation Support Unit (OSU) and embedded it in the official Police Service for dirty work.

Without tabling evidence, Raila charged that they have proper, accurate and detailed information about the OSU whose members wear civilian clothes.

In his statement, Raila appealed to Kenya Police to resist being turned into a killer squad for hire by politicians and a regime suffering an acute legitimacy deficit.

“We appeal to our police to maintain professionalism. We appeal to the police to resist being used to provide cover for a tribal militia that kills people in the name of police. A time comes when all these crimes will be answered for. Everyone involved, including President Ruto himself, needs to think and think again before committing these crimes against citizens,” Raila said.

He further stated that they have always appealed to protesters to remain peaceful and continue to do so, and urged his supporters to obey the law and respect private and public property in the course of protests.

“We maintain that our activities are peaceful until the police decide to break them up with bullets and teargas.”

He narrated that a couple of days ago, he was able to get into town, address Kenyans and disperse peacefully without any injuries or deaths, adding that they were also able to have lunch and hold an impromptu meeting with people at Kenyatta Market that ended peacefully because there were no police.

“All our engagements are peaceful until the police show up. We reiterate that we have instructed our lawyers to prepare and institute legal proceedings against police officers who have gone against their constitutional duty of protecting the life and property of Kenyans during protests,” Raila said.