Shakahola Massacre: Raila Challenges Ruto’s Inquiry Order in Court
Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance, has announced that he will petition President William Ruto’s decision to form an investigation commission into the Shakahola starvation cult in court.
His comments come just one day after he was denied access to the mass grave at Shakahola, where 110 bodies have since been exhumed by forensics detectives.
Speaking on Saturday at the funeral of Mzee Daniel Mwachiro Korokoro in Chonyi village, Kilifi South Constituency, Kilifi County, Raila insisted that President Ruto lacks the constitutional authority to establish the commission and emphasized that only Parliament has the authority to do so.
“Nimeona bwana Ruto jana ameweka tume ya kufanya uchunguzi. Rais hana uwezo ya kuunda jopokazi ya kufanya uchunguzi. Hiyo imewekwa chini ya Bunge na juzi nimeambia bunge yetu waunde tume ya uchunguzi. Bunge inalala; haijefanya kazi hiyo,” he said.
“Mimi nitaenda mahakama kusema hiyo jopokazi ameweka ni kinyume ya katiba.”
Raila continued by claiming that Ruto only established the tribunal to conceal the specifics of the Shakahola massacre.
“Wanataka kuzika hii maneno ndio sababu wanaunda tume. Tunataka kujua nani alifanya hii maneno,” he said.
“Hao wanaohusika wameonekana wakiomba na viongozi wa taifa hii… Tunataka hii maneno ichunguzwe vizuri lakini haiwezi chunguzwa na serikali inashukiwa ilikuwa ndani ya huko.”
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In a gazette notice published on Friday, President Ruto named the members of the commission that will be headed by Lady Justice Jessie Lesiit.
Lady Justice (Retired) Mary Muhanji Kasango, Eric Gumbo, Bishop Catherine Mutua, Dr. Jonathan Lodompui, Dr. Frank Njenga, Wanyama Musiambu, and Albert Musasia will comprise the remaining members.
He also appointed Oliver Kipchumba Karori and Rachel Maina as Joint Secretaries, as well as Kioko Kilukumi as the Chief Counsel.
Additionally, President Ruto appointed Vivian Janet Nyambeki and Bahati Mwamuye as the commission’s assistant counsel.
In the notice, the Head of State charged the commission with investigating the deaths and allegations of torture and inhumane treatment of followers of controversial self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie and his Kilifi County-based Good News International Church.
Shakahola Massacre: Raila Challenges Ruto’s Inquiry Order in Court
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