Leaders affiliated with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have called upon the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Kenya’s security agencies after police fired gunshots and lobbed tear gas during a church service in Kigumo, Murang’a.
Speaking after the incident on Monday, July 28, the leaders, led by Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu and his Nyandarua counterpart John Methu, issued the call to the ICC and international community to put a spotlight on the officers and come to Kenya’s aid.
“Please do not kill us, do not allow security apparatus to be controlled by politicians, because politicians may not know how to operate. Let the mama mbogas do their small businesses, you do not have to tear gas them,” Nyutu stated.
“We want to call upon the International Criminal Court (ICC) to come and start doing investigations, because our security agencies can not help us. We can only call upon the international community to come to our aid,” he added.
His message comes after chaos ensued when police teargassed and fired gunshots at the convoy of Methu, Naivasha Member of Parliament Jayne Kihara, advocate Ndegwa Njiru and other Gachagua-allied leaders on Sunday, July 27, forcing them to flee and scamper for safety.
Methu was in the county to attend a church service in Kigumo Constituency alongside other allies of Gachagua.
After the service, the leaders were expected to address multiple public rallies in the county, but police mounted a blockade along one of the major highways to stop their movement.
In videos and images obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, Methu, alongside other opposition figures, could be seen attempting to negotiate their way through with a commanding officer, who was adamant the convoy had to turn back.
At one point, Methu could be heard asking the officer, "What have we done? What is the problem with addressing the people?"
The situation eventually escalated to mayhem, as a teargas canister was fired near where Methu was engaging the police officer, prompting the Senator and his allies to flee.
Unconfirmed reports also suggested that Methu's convoy was subjected to attacks by unnamed individuals, believed to be hired goons.
Speaking together with Nyutu on Monday, Methu condemned the attack, referencing the freedom of association enshrined in the Constitution as justification for associating or disassociating freely in the country’s political scene.
“Everybody has a freedom of choice. We have a choice and the freedom to associate with whoever we want to associate ourselves with. That freedom is fundamental; it is in our Constitution. We also have the right to dissociate ourselves from anyone we do not want to associate with. We have dissociated ourselves, one hundred per cent, with President William Ruto,” Methu averred.
The latest comes after Gachagua, together with other opposition leaders, had pledged to take Ruto to the ICC. The leaders revealed that they were in the process of collecting evidence to mount a compelling case before the Hague.
