NAIROBI, Kenya Apr 14 – Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition has petitioned the Office of the Prosecutor at International Criminal Court (ICC) to seek the Pre-Trail Chamber authorization to probe police excesses during the coalition’s demonstrations.
In his petition, Advocate Paul Mwangi wants the Hague-based court to investigate “the widespread or systematic attack directed at members of Azimio” by the police from March 20, 2023, to April 2, 2023.
Advocate Mwangi has singled out nine issues he wants the Office of the Prosecutor ICC to probe and that the focus should be directed towards the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome.
“Koome established a special squad of police officers known to be rogue and some being accused persons in criminal courts with the purpose of unleashing terror on supporters of Azimio when they were exercising their constitutional right to assemble, demonstrate, and picket,” Mwangi said.
In his letter, he stated that the members of the squad dressed in plain clothes operated outside the normal command structure and took direction directly from select commanders appointed for that purpose by Koome.
“For the purpose of this Statute, crime against humanity means any of the following acts when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack,” he said.
Advocate Mwangi has also informed the court that IG Koome contravened the Constitution by usurping powers of the Judiciary and pronouncing a ban against any exercise of the rights under Article 37 by members of the Coalition party.
He has also alleged that IG Koome had publicly threatened some Azimio members with death and physical injury should they attempt to proceed with the demonstrations.
Odinga’s attempt on his life has also featured in Mwangi’s petition where he has alleged that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was involved.
“The Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya had publicly stated that it was necessary that Odinga be dealt with and removed” permanently,” he said.
Other issues listed by advocate Mwangi in his letter include – attacks to dispossess or damage property belonging to leaders of Azimio, killing, and maiming of demonstrators, assault on journalists covering the demonstrations, delegitimization of Azimio members, and organizational policy of attacks on A members.
-Return of protests-
Odinga on Thursday announced that the Azimio demonstrations will resume after the holy month of Ramadhan slated for next week.
“We have listened to you in these forums that we should continue with dialogue even as we stage demonstrations. We will continue with demonstrations and we will announce when the protest will be held after the Ramadhan period,” he said.
Odinga had on April 2, 2023, called off the coalition’s demonstrations after President Ruto invited him to engage with him through a bipartisan process via Parliament.
With the resumption of the demonstrations in the offing, President Ruto on Friday dismissed their return and urged Odinga to allow the bipartisan process to take place.
“I want to ask the other leaders to stop the plans on demonstrations, they join hands with us as we plan the issues facing Kenyans because demonstrations will not help anyone,” President Ruto stated while in Machakos.
