DP Gachagua responds on ICC letter by Azimio

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has reacted on the letter written by Azimio La Umoja to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged police brutality against protesters.

Gachagua spoke a day after it emerged that Azimio had written to the Hague-based ICC to the Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome.

In a letter to the ICC, the coalition accuses Mr Koome of violating the Constitution by declaring the protests illegal.

However, Gachagua says government will protect IG over alleged planned intimidation by the opposition.

Speaking in Nyandarua County on Saturday, the DP accused the opposition of trying to “intimidate and harass Mr Koome for doing his job”, adding that the government would protect the IG from any kind of intimidation.

“They are trying to intimidate our Inspector-General of Police but I assure the IG … you continue doing your work, you are a very professional IG doing your work professionally,” said the DP.

“The government of President William Ruto will protect you fully. You should not be harassed by anybody.”

While defending the IG from accusations by Azimio, DP Gachagua said that what Mr Koome did was only to protect lives and property.

“Had they not come to the streets, there would have been no issues between the police and protestors. Let them keep their people at home. If they come to the streets again, do what you did; protect lives and property according to the law,” he said.

In the letter, Azimio leader Raila Odinga, through lawyer Paul Mwangi, asked ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan to submit detailed information on the current situation in Kenya to the court’s pre-trial chamber for authorisation of investigations.

But Mr Gachagua said Azimio supporters are the ones who should be investigated and taken to ICC.

“In fact, the people who should be taken to the ICC are the Azimio characters who went to the streets and destroyed people’s property,” said the DP during a tree-planting exercise at Shamata Secondary school in Ndaragwa constituency.

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