Raila Takes Action After Alleged Attempt To Kill Him, Identifies Two Officers

Azimio la Umoja coalition leader Raila Odinga has formally lodged a complaint with the police over an alleged assassination attempt on his life during the coalition's demonstrations on Thursday, March 30.

Through lawyer Jackson Awele, Raila on Wednesday, April 5 claimed that officers skillfully and persistently shot at his car while participating in the peaceful demonstrations at the Pipeline area in Nairobi between 2 pm and 3 pm.

Awele added that at around 4.30 pm, in the course of the procession towards Outering Road by the Azimio coalition, Raila's motorcade encountered a contingent of armed police officers stationed in the very direction that the peaceful demonstration was parading towards.

"By their very presence at the said location at the material time, it was clear that they (the Police) knew or ought to have known that our client and other demonstrators at large had every intention of parading along the said area and ought, therefore, to have provided and/or facilitated their safe passage and ensured order as by law required.

"Instead, the said police officers maliciously and with the clear intention of violently disrupting the peaceful demonstration, indiscriminately lobbed teargas canisters, fired live ammunition and sprayed pink-dyed water at our client's convoy thereby provoking mayhem and violent reactions from demonstrators. The reckless and violent use of force by the police on the material day is well documented and within the knowledge of the police and the public at large," the complaint read in part.

Raila went on to corroborate initial claims that police officers approached his vehicle and fired 10 rounds of live ammunition, with subsequent examinations showing that the car was skillfully targeted with the former Prime Minister as the actual target.

"In the event, there is reasonable cause to believe that specific officers acting on the command of the Inspector General of the National Police Service and/or the State, with malice aforethought, attempted to commit a felony, to wit; to cause the death of our client, an offence under the Penal code.

"Needless to state, the conduct of the said Police officers against our client and the peaceful demonstrators amounted to misconduct contrary to the Police Act and the Independent Policing Oversight Act and accordingly warrant Independent inquiry by the Internal Affairs Unit of the National Police Service and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority," added the complaint.

In the letter to the Officer Commanding Kware Police Station, Raila asked the police to book the incident in their Occurrence Book (OB) and he be furnished with the entry number and details.

The Opposition chief added that with the help of the public at large, they had identified two officers namely Corporal Silas Kemboi and Constable Isaac Ndirangu.

A copy of the letter was availed to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) as a notification for his further action in accordance with the Constitution and the applicable law.