Raila claims assassination attempt on Kalonzo and him
Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio la One Kenya Coalition, has claimed that there was an attempt on his life and that of Kalonzo Musyoka during Monday’s mass actions.
While addressing the press on Tuesday, Raila said that their cars were shot as they made their way through Nairobi but the two were unharmed.
“There was an attempt on the lives of both Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka. Their cars were shot at but luckily, they were unharmed. We remain horrified and disgusted by the response of the police,” he said.
On Monday, Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition spokesperson Makau Mutua claimed that the vehicle carrying the Orange Democratic Movement leader was hit by a bullet.
Mutua was also in the same car, allegedly hit with a bullet. In a tweet, Mutua shared images of a badly damaged windscreen, faulting the police for the developments. “A bullet has hit our vehicle in which Baba Raila Odinga is riding,” he said.
Raila criticized the response of police, terming it ‘excessive and unnecessary’. The antigovernment protests are part of the coalition’s efforts to push for reforms in the country.
The coalition has been calling for the resignation of President William Ruto, and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua demanding they lower the cost of living, taxes and halt the process of appointing Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners.
“That brutality witnessed yesterday does not belong in this century,” said Raila.
He added, “It is impunity at its worst, but we are determined to confront it as they saw yesterday.”
The opposition leader has also announced the formation of a team of security and legal experts to examine the conduct and orders given by police commanders to the officers on the streets that led to the violence.
“We shall institute legal action against individual officers who give such orders that led to the mayhem,” he added.
Opposition chief Raila Odinga has called for the boycotting of three companies in a move similar to that of 2017.
Raila called for the boycotting of a major telecommunications company, bank, and media house as he continues with his mass actions.
The Inspector General of Police, Japhet Koome, earlier stated that the police were forced to use force during Monday’s demonstrations to prevent the protesters from accessing the Central Business Districts of Nairobi and Kisumu.
The police were successful in their efforts, resulting in the arrest of 25 people, seven officers injured in Nyanza, ten police vehicles damaged, and 24 officers injured in Nairobi, while 213 people were arrested.