IG Koome Urged To Summon Sylvanus Osoro 'If He's Too Powerful To Be Arrested'

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party led by Raila Odinga has demanded Inspector General of Police (IG) Japhet Koome to summon South Mugirango Member of Parliament Sylvanus Osoro concerning the disruption of Kisii Governor Simba Arati’s bursary distribution event in Waitanga, South Mugirango by unknown goons who fired gunshots to scare away the crowd.

In a statement on Friday, January 12, the ODM lawmakers led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who is also the party Secretary-General, want IG Koome to summon Osoro for grilling in the next 14 days.

"That at the very minimum Hon. Osoro should be asked to record a statement if he is too powerful to be arrested," stated the party.

ODM is also demanding that IG Koome transfer the Kisii Police County Commander with immediate effect and that action be taken against the officers identified in the attack, adding that "They should be interdicted as they await their date with Justice."

The party had accused the Kisii police boss of allegedly colluding with Osoro to plan a diversionary raid on the Governor's residence in the guise of searching for firearms.

"That the Independent Police Oversight Authority must immediately commence investigations into the abuse of police power in Kisii County. All these must happen within the next 14 days failing which the Party will pursue other avenues to ensure law and order in Kisii," warned the party.

At the same time, ODM accused those in charge of the country's national security organs, including the police of largely ignoring the matter, while asserting that the governor's life was still in danger.

Sifuna pointed an accusing finger against the top organs of the national security for failing to take action against those responsible, including the removal of the officers from the police service.

"We take note of the loud silence of the CS in-charge of national security, the Inspector General of police and the entire security apparatus. Their policy appears to be see no evil, hear no evil.

"It is this silence coupled with the fact that no action whatsoever has been taken either against Hon. Osoro or any of his goons in Police uniform that leads us to the conclusion that this is state sponsored violence, approved at the highest level of the security command," the party SG added.

While issuing the ultimatum, Sifuna added that the lawmaker, the police boss and the police IG would be held responsible in the event any harm comes to the Party's national chairperson as a result of any subsequent attack against him.

During the incident that was marred with gunshots, four people were hospitalised with scores nursing minor injuries.

Both Osoro and Arati have been accusing each other of sparking the violence which rattled both the opposition and the government-allied camps.