EAC leaders plotting to kill Raila Odinga — Oburu Oginga

Nominated MP Oburu Oginga on Friday sensationally accused some East African Community leaders of plotting to assassinate his brother Raila Odinga for allegedly undermining them.

But Dr Oginga’s claim was quickly dismissed by State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu, who called it “cheap, unfounded and demeaning to the integrity and the agenda of EAC leaders” who met last week at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi.

Without naming names, the Nominated MP who is an elder brother of the Cord leader claimed that “some of the Presidents of the EAC countries have a personal agenda in the region which they fear can’t be achieved with the ODM leader around”.

That was the reason the alleged plot to kill the former Prime Minister was supposedly hatched during a recent meeting at Safari Park where the Kenya National Electronic Single Window System was launched, Dr Oginga told a press conference in Bondo.

Present at the launch were Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Salva Kiir Mayardit (South Sudan).

Mr Odinga travelled to the US two months ago to give a series of lectures in Boston, Massachusetts.

“I have received information from a very credible source that some powerful individuals within the East African Community want Raila Odinga dead,” Dr Oginga said, adding that the plot was to kill Mr Odinga on his return from the US.

“The fact that Mr Odinga enjoys a massive following in the region is also a reason why they want to kill him,” he said.

'CHEAP WORDS'

Dismissing the claim, Mr Esipisu told Dr Oginga to channel his energies elsewhere instead of engaging in dangerous talk.

“We wish to dismiss the malicious, ungrounded and unfounded allegations with the contempt they deserve. The Heads of States from the East African Community have a noble agenda of serving their citizens and are not ready to be distracted by the cheap words of Oburu,” he said.

Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo said he had not received any reports on the alleged plot.

“The matter has not been brought to my attention. It has not been reported to any police station but if we get the report, we will investigate immediately,” he said on the telephone.

This was the second time in two years that an ODM MP has raised allegations about a plot to assassinate the former PM who is expected back in the country at the end of the month.

In 2012, Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo claimed some senior officials in government at the time had planned to kill the former prime minister, allegations that were denied by the government.

“Mr Jakoyo Midiwo told us of a similar plot and was dismissed. I also said the same at a conference at the Bomas of Kenya and no one bothered to respond,” said Dr Oginga, explaining that his brother’s extended tour of the US had nothing to do with the plot since he wasn’t aware of it.