Azimio La Umoja Leader Raila Odinga, on Saturday, May 6, vowed to sue President William Ruto for appointing a Commission of Inquiry to probe the Shakahola Massacre.
Speaking in Kilifi County at the burial of Mzee Daniel Mwachiru Korokoro, Raila claimed that Ruto bypassed Parliament by gazetting the Commission in a Gazette Notice dated Friday, May 5, 2023.
"I will be moving to court to sue Mr Ruto and challenge his appointment of the Commission of Inquiry into the mass deaths at Shakahola Forest.
"This is because Ruto does not have the power to form such a commission. They are simply trying to cover the criminal activities that took place at Shakahola Forest," Raila stated.
Raila claimed that the Executive cannot investigate itself where its officers were adversely mentioned for complacency, among other questions.
"I was shocked when Mr Ruto appointed a Commission of Inquiry into the killings at Shakahola, despite knowing very well that under the New Constitution, he does not have such powers.
"It is only the Parliament that can form a Commission of Inquiry into the mass murder of the people," Raila stated.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader also claimed that the State was concealing the evidence of what really took place where more than 110 bodies had been exhumed.
President Ruto appointed Lady Justice Jessie Lessit to chair the commission of inquiry into the Shakohola Forest Massacre Tragedy, allegedly overseen by cult leader Paul Mackenzie.
The Head of State charged the commission to inquire into the factors that lead to the death of more than 110 followers of cult leader Paul Mackenzie.
Meanwhile, Raila was also grossly offended by police officers who barred him from witnessing the savagery at Shakahola Forest during his visit to the 800-acre piece of land on Friday, May 5, 2023.
"I called Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki and told him that I needed to tour the scene, but he dismissed and asked me to wait until Members of Parliament visit Shakahola.
"What happened in Shakahola must be condemned by the whole world. The government failed to protect the people of Kenya. Those who were involved in Shakahola Massacre are well-known to the people, but nothing has been done about it," Raila claimed.
