Raila Breaks Silence on Lawyer Paul Gicheru's Death

Raila Odinga at KICC giving his speech to the Media about IEBC commission on August 16, 2022
Raila Odinga addresses the media at KICC on Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Kenyans.co.ke

Azimio leader Raila Odinga has broken his silence over the death of the International Criminal Court (ICC) suspect, lawyer Paul Gicheru.

In a statement by Raila's spokesperson Prof Makau Mutua on Wednesday, September 28, the former Prime Minister termed the death as mysterious and unexplained.

He further called on the International Police (Interpol) to take over the investigations, expressing lack of confidence in the local investigative agencies.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
File

"The pattern of mysterious and unexplained deaths, some of them gruesome and macabre, is extremely disturbing.

"To avoid cover up in Kenya, we call upon the international investigative agencies including Interpol to lead the investigation," read the statement in part.

Raila explained that Gicheru's death had international implications since he ICC had placed him in custody at the time of his death.

He stated that by  virtue of being party to The Hague-based Court, Kenya had no option but to comply with investigations.

The former Prime Minister condoled with Gicheru's family and demanded a probe into his son's illness.

"His son was reportedly rushed to hospital in unclear circumstances at the time of his father's death. Mr Odinga calls for a thorough and credible investigation to uncover Gicheru's death and his son's illness," Makau Mutua noted.

Notably, the Campaign Secretariat Spokesperson linked Gicheru's untimely demise to the trail of high profile ICC witnesses who also lost their lives under unclear circumstances.

On September 29, family lawyer John Khaminwa refuted reports that his client was taken out by food poisoning. However, he noted that the ICC suspect  seemed uneasy, stressed and dejected in his last days.

The deceased's mother, Josephine Wambui, disputed any underlying health conditions stating that he was in good health and constantly checked on the family. Nonetheless, she insisted that his wife gave an account of what really transpired.

Gicheru had been charged at the International Criminal Court with interfering with witnesses in relation to the 2007-08  post election violence case, to which he pleaded not- guilty.

An image of ICC suspect Paul Gicheru who died on September 27, 2022.
An image of ICC suspect Lawyer Paul Gicheru who died on September 26, 2022.
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