ODM defends Raila remarks
The Orange Democratic Movement on Tuesday supported Prime Minister Raila Odinga in his war of words with Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto over the International Criminal Court cases.
The party, through its national organising secretary Hassan Joho defended the PM against accusations that he is the architect of the cases facing the Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto at The Hague.
“Mr Odinga speaks for ODM and the position he has taken on the ICC matter is that of the party.
“This is the position taken by the National Executive Council so Mr Odinga is speaking on behalf of the party,” Mr Joho stated.
The Kisauni MP was speaking a day after Mr Odinga accused Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto of using the cases facing them at The Hague to wage a hate campaign against him.
A statement from the Raila Odinga Secretariat also accused the two presidential hopefuls of using “forged documents” to lay ground for absconding trials at the war crimes court.
“The same people shouting then, ‘Don’t be vague, let us go to The Hague,’ are the ones now demonising the ICC.
They seek to kill two birds with one stone – dragging the Prime Minister and other innocent parties into their self-inflicted woes, and at the same time making political capital out of the ICC matter,” it added.
Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto, alongside former Public Service boss Francis Muthaura and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang are facing crimes against humanity charges.
On Tuesday, six MPs allied to Mr Ruto asked Mr Odinga to resign. (READ: Resign, Rift MPs tell Raila)
“The violence began when the PM refused to concede defeat. It’s that which sparked the violence. If he says he was not involved in the violence, he should resign.
“It took the blood of Kenyans, their death and displacement, for him to be the Prime Minister of Kenya,” said Mr Joshua Kutuny (Cherangany).
Mr Kutuny, flanked by MPs Sammy Mwaita (Baringo Central), Luka Kigen (Rongai), Charles Keter (Belgut) and Jackson Kiptanui (Keiyo South), added that there was “more information” coming up regarding The Hague cases.
