Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition now wants Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome charged at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for allegedly committing crimes against humanity.
Already, Azimio has written to the office of the prosecutor at the Hague based court seeking investigations into the political situation in Kenya.
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“Ever since William Ruto was sworn in as President of Kenya on 13th September 2022, his Kenya Kwanza regime has exhibited disdain for the Constitution and laws of Kenya and contempt for democracy and its institutions,” the letter reads.
Azimio added that they organised demonstrations against the government to protest against the deteriorating political and economic situation in Kenya.
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“To protest against the deteriorating political and economic situation in Kenya, the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party called for nationwide demonstrations through the exercise of the fundamental rights enshrined under Article 1(1) and (2) and in Article 37 of the Constitution of the Constitution of Kenya,” Azimio said in the letter.
The Coalition has documented what it termed as crimes committed by the state during the demos.
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Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome has been named as the main culprit.
Azimio accuses Koome of committing eight serious crimes.
It claims that the police IG established a special squad of rogue police officers to unleash terror on its supporters during the demos.
“The squads are reported to be dressed in plain clothes, to operate outside the normal command structure and to take direction directly from select commanders appointed for that purpose by Japheth Koome,” Azimio claims.
They further claim that Azimio that the IG threatened its members with death and physical injury.
At the same time the coalition claims that there were deliberate attempts by the police to assassinate its leader Raila Odinga on April 3, 2023, at around the Pipeline area of Embakasi South Constituency.
“On 3rd April 2023 at 1630 hours, at around the Pipeline area of Embakasi South Constituency in Nairobi City, a contingent of police officers approached the motor vehicle in which the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition party leader Raila Odinga was being ferried in and fired approximately teroundsnd of live ammunition with a clear intention to kill him.
“A report of the attack was made the next day and a complaint lodged the samday,ay but no action was taken. Prior to this assassination attempt, the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya had publicly stated that it was necessary that Raila Odinga be “dealt with” and “removed” permanently,” Azimio said.
