Raila Claims Plot Twist In Death Of Cop During Azimio Protests In Kisumu

Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga, has alleged that he has family relations with the police officer who was killed in Kisumu during the coalition's anti-government demonstrations on Thursday, March 30.

While addressing his supporters at Ufangamano House on Thursday, April 13, Raila condemned the events leading to the death of the cop after an autopsy conducted at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching & Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) on Wednesday, April 5 revealed a twist to the officer's death.

In claims that could not be verified, Raila revealed that the deceased officer was his grandson and the mother was his niece. Furthermore, he claimed that he was responsible for the officer's recruitment to the police force.

"A young man in Kisumu was knocked by police, he was a police officer.

"That young man who was knocked in Kisumu, for the understanding of everybody around here, is my grandson, his mother is my niece. I am the one who actually recruited him to the police,” stated Raila.

The former Prime Minister further expressed his outrage at the police force after he visited protesters recuperating in city hospitals after being shot by police during the demonstrations.

As a result, he remained firm on his vow to table the matter of police brutality to what he termed as the highest court in the world, which is the International Court of Justice (ICJ), also called the World Court, one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN).

"We have said that as Azimio, we are going to take this matter to the highest court in the world. Already our lawyers are working on this and we are going to take the particulars of all those police officers who have been involved in the deliberate shooting and killing or maiming of innocent Kenyans to a court which is outside our jurisdiction as a people to ensure that justice is achieved," he added.

It was initially reported that the officer, identified as Corporal Ben Oduor, who was stationed at Keroka Police Station in Nyamira County, succumbed to injuries while he was on duty around the Jamia Supermarket area in Kisumu County.

However, the post-mortem ruled out the earlier account by indicating that the officer had a broken hipbone and legs.

Police had reported the cop had been hit by a stone thrown using a catapult by some of the rowdy protesters in Kisumu, but an insider revealed to NTV, that the cop was run over by a police vehicle as he attempted to get on board.

According to the source, as the deceased and his colleagues rushed to board the vehicle after launching teargas canons, the officer missed a step and fell on the tarmac.

"The phone that was in his pocket was broken, this can tell you that a car ran over his phone.

 "He fell down and his right leg got under the car which ran him over. The crowd did not get to the deceased," the insider told NTV.

He was later rushed to the hospital for treatment but succumbed to the injuries he had sustained.

While confirming the death of the officer while on duty, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome condemned the acts of violence and vandalism witnessed during the demonstrations in Nairobi and other parts of the country.

The protests on March 30 saw 20 police officers seriously injured and property whose value was yet to be determined destroyed as hooligans masquerading as protestors invaded private property.

Scene after a supermarket in Kisumu was looted on March 30, 2023. /CAPITAL BREAKING