The Azimio La Umoja Boss Raila Amolo Odinga has written a message to president William Samoe Ruto on the killing and imprisonment of those caught during protests.
In a press release dated July 15th, 2023, Odinga wrote: “We are yet again in the throes of a liberation struggle.
“This time, we are struggling to be liberated from politics of deceit, corruption, dictatorship, and arrogance. Kenyans have never lost a liberation struggle.
“We get beaten, arrested, and killed but we never lose. In the past, we have suffered detention without trial, police brutality and even a totally compliant judiciary and still, we did not lose. We shall not lose the one currently under way.”
Odinga blamed police shooting and killing innocent protestors in every protest.
“Police killings during protests have happened in the past. Almost always, those shot are innocent Kenyans not involved in demonstrations.
“These killings are meant to spread fear among Kenyans so that they succumb to the excesses of the regime.
“Unfortunately, this time round, it is not just the official security officers that are being unleashed on Kenyans. Kenya Kwanza has embedded a trained killer squad in the name of Operation Support Unit into the official security agencies and unleashed it on Kenyans.”
Odinga detailed that OSU, now under a Mr. Zakary Kariuki, was disbanded a few years ago and its members sent home.
“The squad is back. Last Wednesday, OSU was in action in Kamkunji, Jogoo Road and Mlolongo, firing at protesters and killing some. OSU’s main brief is to hurt and execute Azimio leaders and protesters.
“It is the squad Ruto is counting on “kusafirisha” Azimio leaders as Mr. William Ruto warned. We will soldier on. Arrests trumped up charges, illegal detentions and incarcerations have happened in the past.
“We have always remembered the victims as the heroes of our liberation. We remember heroes like the late George Anyona, Edward Oyugi, Ngotho Kariuki and Njeru Kathangu who were jailed on trumped up charges.
“We remember Koigi Wa Wamwere who was numerous times arrested, denied bail, and held for several years each time in an attempt to silence him.
“We remember the recently deceased Prof Micere Mugo and the late Prof. Ali Mazrui who were forced into exile. We remember Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia who were detained without trial for demanding for what is today a basic reality of Kenya’s politics and one of the pillars of our Republic, multi-party politics.”
On attack on Willy Mutunga, Odinga detailed that “Indeed, the folly of our past dictatorship is evidenced by the fact that Dr. Willy Mutunga and Mohamed Ibrahim, who were also detained for demanding multi-party politics, survived to become Chief Justice and Judge of the Supreme Court respectively.
“As we soldier on, we condole with the families of all those killed by Ruto and celebrate them as martyrs of our liberation. We acknowledge all those being arrested and charged and acknowledge them as political prisoners. We shall overcome.”
