Raila: We will honour the dead

Nasa leader Raila Odinga receives a donation from Okongo Omogeni during a fundraising for the burial of people killed over the elections period. PHOTO | ANDREW KILONZI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • He was accompanied by fellow Nasa principals Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula.
  • Mr Orengo said they will seek justice for those killed through the international human rights groups.

Nasa leader Raila Odinga on Friday vowed to lead a memorial for those killed by police on the same day that President Uhuru Kenyatta will be sworn into office.

Mr Odinga said Tuesday will not be a celebration day for many Kenyans as the country “will be mourning.”

“It will be crazy for any government to arrange for any ceremony when the country is mourning. There should be no celebration at all,” Mr Odinga spoke at a fund raising event to help meet funeral expenses of those who were killed between November 17 and 21.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

“As they will be celebrating, we will be holding a major memorial service at Jacaranda in Embakasi to pray with families of those killed,” Mr Odinga said.

He was accompanied by fellow Nasa principals Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula and at least 40 Nasa legislators.

He has accused the government of instituting state-sponsored police killings and use of force to repulse supporters who turned out to receive him from his 10-day tour of the US last week.

Earlier, the coalition took a full-page newspaper advert to mourn 26 people it said were victims of police brutality and called on well-wishers to support their families.

“That from those honoured dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion-that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain,” said Senator James Orengo and former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama, quoting former American president Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Gettysburg speech.

Already, Nasa has asked the International Criminal Court to investigate the Jubilee government on alleged crimes against humanity.

MOB JUSTICE

“They told us the killings were as a result of mob justice, but everyone saw that police turned into a mob, killing people and throwing stones at motorist. The question is, when will they be arrested because they are known to Kenyans?” Mr Mudavadi asked.

Mr Orengo said they will seek justice for those killed through the international human rights groups.

“It will be taken to ICC because these killings have been committed against people fighting for their political cause well within the law. What is interesting is that the international community represented by their envoys here are so quiet,” Mr Orengo said.

He wondered how President Kenyatta would have allowed the killings to occur when he had sworn to protect the interests of all Kenyans.

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo claimed that 54 people were killed and that 28 of them had been identified. Police dispute these numbers giving a lower one.

Mr Odinga donated Sh1 million, while Mr Mudavadi and Mr Wetang’ula gave Sh100,000 each.