Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga has come under sharp criticism from a section of leaders affiliated with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) who are calling for his arrest over the madoadoa remarks he made in Wajir county.
The leaders intimated that the former Premier ought to be treated in the same manner as Meru Senator Mithika Linturi who was in police custody for making the same remarks at a previous UDA rally.
While addressing a political rally in Wajir County, on Wednesday, March 10, Raila and his brigade urged the residents to vote in leaders in 6-piece for the Azimio la Umoja movement.
"We want all candidates selected in Wajir to come from the Azimio la Umoja movement. We want this to be an Azimio zone. We don't want madoadoa here in Wajir,"Raila stated.
This, according to Odinga would ensure that Azimio carried the day from presidency to the County Assembly level.
However, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen took issue with the remarks, calling for the police to take action.
"This is Raila Odinga in Wajir today. To demonstrate rule of law and in particular equality before the law, let the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) act as swift as in the case of Mithika Linturi," Murkomen stated.
His sentiments were echoed by Soy MP Caleb Kositany, and a strong ally of Deputy President William Ruto, who alleged that the former Premier would neither be arrested nor prosecuted.
"Will Raila Odinga be picked up for this? Of course not," Kositany stated.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, political analyst Dr Barrack Muluka affirmed that politicians should focus more on their agenda rather than the theatrics brought about by politicking.
"They are all politicking and I really don't think it counts for anything. These people are better off focusing on substantive issues other than that. Those kind of politicking of calling out your opponents for making the madoadoa remarks doesn't add much value to your campaign efforts. "
"Whether it is Raila who says or Linturi who stated, I don't think we should give it more significance other than the fact that he told the residents not to vote for anyone outside of their formation," Muluka intimated.
Linturi was arrested on January 9, 2022, over the madoadoa remarks-perceived to cause hate speech ahead of the 2022 General Election. The politician was, however, released on a Ksh2 million cash bail or a conditional bond of Ksh5 million, in order to allow for the detectives to complete investigations.
The court later stopped the investigation into Linturi's remarks after the prosecution failed to prefer charges against him.
“The miscellaneous file is marked as withdrawn as the prosecution has failed to prefer any charges against the suspect within the time allocated by the court,” ruled Chief Magistrate Edna Nyaloti.
