Raila to Ruto: Just like the missing Indians, investigate these Kenyans' 'mysterious' deaths too

Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition leader Raila Odinga now accuses President William Ruto of using his power to settle scores with state officers he habours grudge with.

Speaking during a press conference in Nairobi on Thursday, November 4, Raila - flanked with the coalitions principals - accused Ruto of orchestrating a witch-hunt against the former Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss George Kinoti.

"William Ruto's grudge against George Kinoti started way before the elections. Ruto appears to believe that the coming of the UDA regime is a mandate for him to punish those who he had a grudge against. We are here to say no! We oppose any attempt to sacrifice state officers who, in the line of duty, have rubbed politicians in the wrong way, and who are now being selectively punished for having done their job," Raila said.

Mysterious disappearances

On President Ruto's orders, the acting Inspector General Noor Gabow has disbanded the DCI's Special Service Unit (SSU), a unit that has been accused of planning and executing extra-judicial killings in the country.

Nine officers that were attached to the disbanded unit are currently in court facing criminal charges, which include the disappearance of two Indians who were part of Ruto's digital campaign team.

And while Raila says the lives of the Indians matter, so does the lives of many Kenyans who have disappeared mysteriously and their bodies discovered.

"Mr Ruto seems to be looking for some Indians whom he lost in the middle of the August elections. These Indians deserve to live and we continue to pray for their families and hope that they be found alive and that justice shall be done in their case. But we believe, the Indians are not the first to disappear, and they will most certainly not be the last if the path is anything to go by. 

"As Mr Ruto mounts a search for the Indians, whoever or whatever they were to him, we want an equally vigorous search to establish the truth behind their disappearance and death of tens of Kenyans," added Raila.

Mysterious murders

Among the deaths and disappearences Raila wants President Ruto's government to resolve and instil justice to their families include;

Kipyegon Kemei: the AP officer who went missing just when he was about to record statement in the KSh39.5 billion Fake Arms Probe that involved the office of Deputy President, where Ruto was serving in that capacity.

Christopher Koech: He taught at Khaunga Primary School in Mumias, He was later found lying on the side of a road next to his motorbike near Shibuli market, with foam in his mouth and was sweating profusely. He was linked to the ICC case. At one time, he was under witness protection until he sort refuge in a neighbouring country. Mr Koech was to travel to the Hague, to testify in Lawyer Paul Gicheru's ICC case.

Meshack Mibei: His mutilated body was found in Tsavo National Park, some 600 kilometers from the area where he had disappeared. He was linked to the ICC cases.

Journalist John Kituyi: He was allegedly killed for his reporting on the death of a witness in the ICC proceedings. Unknown assailants on a motorcycle attacked Kituyi as he was walking home from work near his home in Eldoret town at around 7:30 p.m., hitting him repeatedly with a blunt object.

Journalist Walter Osapiri Barasa and Philip Kipkoech Bett alias "Kipseng'erya”: Both are anted by the ICC for interfering with witnesses. There whereabouts remain unknown.

Others - who are linked to the ICC cases, are; John Kang'ethe, George Thuo, Bernard Kimeli, Charles Ndung'u Wagacha (then-Mungiki acting chairman), Naftali Irungu, Njoroge Gichere, Antony Mwenje, Timothy Mburu just to name but a few.

And last but not least, the opposition coalition wants Kenya Kwanza government to investigate the deaths of Chris Musando, the former IEBC ICT Manager, and businessman Jacob Juma.