Parallels Drawn on Alleged Assassination Attempts on Raila, Winnie Odinga

Azimio leader Raila Odinga (right) and his daughter Winnie Odinga during a past event.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga (right) and his daughter Winnie Odinga during a past event.
File

Azimio’s South African chapter, in a press release on Monday, March 20, drew parallels on an alleged assassination plot of Raila Odinga and his daughter Winnie Odinga.

The group claimed several assassination attempts before and during the Monday, March 20 demonstrations.

The statement further alleged that senior government officials planned the assassination plots

“Azimio chapter has learnt with shock the attempts to assassinate Raila Odinga and her daughter Winnie Odinga during a peaceful demonstration against President William Ruto’s administration,” part of the statement read in part.

A photo collage of Raila Odinga's car allegedly damaged by police officers on March 20, 2023..jpg
A photo collage of Raila Odinga's car allegedly damaged by police officers on March 20, 2023.
Makau Mutua

The South African chapter alleged that the assassination attempts were made simultaneously but on different scenes.

“Uniformed police officers attempted to carry out these two separate assassinations by lobbying teargas canisters at the vehicles of both Raila and Winnie as they were leaving Serena hotel,” the group alleged.

On why they thought it was an assassination attempt, the Azimio chapter explained, “It cannot be a coincidence that both teargas canisters were fired from the front and directed on the left side of the two vehicles, broke the windscreens and penetrated inside the car.”

The group further explained that on a separate occasion, the police attempted to physically gain entrance into Winnie's vehicle by damaging the windows.

The South African Azimio chapter further remarked that the attempts did not happen in isolation.

They claimed that towards the Monday demonstrations, Raila had been threatened by Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

“We call on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate this matter urgently because we cannot trust the Kenyan Police to conduct an independent investigation,” they pleaded with the Hague-based court.

The statement came a few minutes after Raila alleged that the government targeted his daughter Winnie.

"Ruto’s government has consistently shown animosity towards my daughter Winnie, and today they wasted no time attacking her vehicle. 

A photo collage of Winnie Odinga's car allegedly damaged by police officers on March 20, 2023..jpg
A photo collage of Winnie Odinga's car allegedly damaged by police officers on March 20, 2023.
Raila Odinga

"Such shameful conduct should not be tolerated and we refuse to be intimidated. Ruto and his team should be ashamed of themselves," agitated Raila remarked.

While at a rally in Nakuru on Thursday, March 16, Raila revealed that alleged attempts on his life would not deter him.

"You can assassinate Raila Odinga physically but you cannot assassinate his ideas or what he stands for," the former premier stated back then.

Police were yet to respond to the alleged assassination attempt claims on the opposition leader and his daughter by the time of publishing.

  • .