Raila Vows to Soldier On Amid Alleged Government “Killer Squad”
Azimio la Umoja Raila Odinga, the leader of a Kenyan coalition party. Is accusing the administration of President William Ruto of unleashing a “trained illegal killing squad” to target opposition leaders.
Odinga, in a statement to newsrooms on Saturday, alleged that the current regime is using a gang camouflaged as police officers called Operation Support Unit (OSU) to commit excesses against both Azimio leaders and their supporters.
While blaming OSU for the fatalities witnessed in Wednesday’s protests in Mlolongo, Kamkunji, and Jogoo Road, the leader of Azimio stated that his group would continue to fight for the liberation of the country.
According to Odinga, the president’s recent statement that he would “politically deal with Odinga conclusively and once and for all” suggests that the alleged assassination squad was instructed to target Azimio leaders.
“This time, it’s not just official security personnel who are unleashed against Kenyans. “Kenya Kwanza has infiltrated Operation Support Unit, a trained assassination squad, into the official security agencies and unleashed it on Kenyans,” he stated.
“The OSU, now led by Mr. Kariuki, was disbanded and its members were sent home a few years ago. The team is returning. OSU was active in Kamkunji, Jogoo Road, and Mlolongo on Wednesday, firing at protestors and killing some.
Odinga added, “OSU’s primary directive is to harm and kill Azimio leaders and demonstrators. As Mr. William Ruto forewarned, Ruto is relying on ‘kusafirisha’ Azimio leaders.
The former prime minister cited the post-independence struggles for multiparty democracy and the fight for the new Constitution to reiterate that he would not be intimidated by threats to end the anti-government demonstrations.
“Kenyans have never lost a liberation struggle. Odinga stated, “We are beaten, arrested, and killed, but we never lose.”
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He guaranteed victory by stating, “We will not lose the current battle. In the past, police have killed individuals during demonstrations. Almost always, innocent Kenyans who are not participating in demonstrations are slain. These killings are intended to instill terror among Kenyans so that they will submit to the regime’s excesses.”
As a result, the opposition leader recalled previous combatants such as George Anyona, Edward Oyugi, Ngotho Kariuki, Njeru Kathangu, Kenneth Matiba, and Charles Rubia, among others, as “heroes of our liberation” whose victories will inspire Kenyans to persevere.
As he sought to reassure his supporters of a better future, he mourned those slain and arrested during the protests, dubbing them martyrs and political prisoners, respectively.
“We will persevere. In the past, arrests, fabricated allegations, illegal detentions, and incarcerations have occurred. “We have always remembered the victims as the liberation’s heroes,” he said.
“As we press forward, we express our condolences to the families of all those slain by Ruto and honor them as martyrs of our liberation. We acknowledge all those who are being detained and charged as political prisoners. We will prevail.”
Raila Vows to Soldier On Amid Alleged Government “Killer Squad”
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