Ongeri dismisses plot to kill Raila claims

Foreign Affairs minister Sam Ongeri on Sunday dismissed claims by joint Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo that he was among those allegedly plotting to assassinate Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Prof Ongeri said that his style of politics was founded on professionalism and Christianity and “allegations made by Mr Midiwo are wild and baseless. If he has anything to tell Kenyans, he should come clear and say it”.

On Saturday, Mr Midiwo alleged that a meeting was held last Sunday, which brought together two ministers, a senior security officer and a permanent secretary during which elimination of Mr Odinga was discussed as the last option in clearing the presidential succession race.

The Gem MP claimed that mercenaries had been hired to execute the plot.

He spoke in the presence of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers Anyang’ Nyong’o (Medical Services),  Dalmas Otieno (Public Service) and James Orengo (Lands) during the burial of Dr Leah Gondi in Bondo District.

Contacted afterwards, Mr Odinga’s spokesman Dennis Onyango said that the PM heard about the alleged plot for the first time at the funeral.

Mr Midiwo, however, said that the President was not in the picture about the plot.

The Gem MP sensationally named Prof Ongeri and his ministry as being used to hatch the assassination plan.

This is not the first time MPs are alleging a plot by mercenaries to assassinate Mr Odinga.

Two mercenaries

In February last year, ODM MPs claimed that two foreign mercenaries, ‘Paul’ and ‘Thomas’, who were likened to the Artur brothers, were in the country to execute their mission. They claimed that the mercenaries also targeted four other leaders.

Nominated MP Millie Odhiambo first raised the alarm over the presence of the alleged mercenaries, saying their targets included Mr Odinga, National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende, MPs Olago Aluoch, Ababu Namwamba and herself.

However, Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere allayed fears over the PM’s security even as he ordered police bosses in the districts to deploy reinforcement whenever the PM was visiting their areas.

In 2006, Mr Odinga alerted the country to the presence of what he described then as “Russian mercenaries,” who turned out to be the controversial Artur brothers — Artur Sargasyan and Artur Margaryan.

The two were later linked to Standard Group raid.

On June 8, 2006, they staged a gun drama at the JKIA following a confrontation with customs officials, leading to their deportation the following day.

A commission of inquiry headed by retired Police Commissioner Shedrack Kiruki was established to probe their activities while in the country. The commission’s report is yet to be made public.

Last year, a diplomatic cable released by whistle-blowing website Wikileaks claimed that a Cabinet minister had indicated that Mr Odinga was likely to be assassinated if he won the 2007 presidential elections.

On Sunday, Prof Ongeri said that he had instructed his lawyers to get the video clip of Mr Midiwo’s allegations and check its content before taking any legal action.

The Nyaribari Masaba MP said that he would not take the matter for lightly.

However, Mr Midiwo in a rejoinder challenged him to go ahead, adding that he was prepared for a court battle.

The Gem MP asked the minister to explain to Kenyans the subject of the meeting he attended about a month ago at Serena Hotel with a minister from central Kenya and a few other people.

But Prof Ongeri said his professional ethics as a doctor would not allow him to kill.

“I am always a crusader for peace and not a crusader for discontent and that is what I always preach wherever I am,” he said.

On Sunday afternoon, police raided Mr Midiwo’s rural home in Gem Akala.

Speaking to the Nation on phone, the MP said that he would keep his promise to record a statement with the police in Nairobi on Tuesday on the alleged plans to assassinate Mr Odinga.

Mr Jakoyo did not disclose where he was speaking from after the 3 pm raid at his home. The Bondo CID boss said the raid was not conducted by police from his area, saying he did not know where the officers came from.

Reported by Jackline Moraa, Otieno Owida and Lilian Ochieng