Raila files complaint over alleged attempt on his life, wants 2 police officers probed

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga has filed a complaint at Kware Police Station in Embakasi following the alleged attempt on his life during the anti-government protests on Thursday last week.

The complaint filed by Odinga's lawyer Jackson Awele notes that on the day of incident, the Azimio frontman was leading his supporters in peaceful protests along the Pipeline area of Embakasi South Constituency when his procession came across a squad of armed police officers at Outer Ring road, the direction the entourage was heading towards.

According to Awele, instead of allowing the procession to make its way onto Outer Ring Road, the officers indiscriminately fired teargas, shot live ammunition and sprayed pink-coloured water at Odinga's convoy, prompting an angry reaction from the protesters.

"The reckless and violent use of force by the police on the material day is well documented and within the knowledge of the police and the public at large," the complaint reads in part.

During the commotion, the complaint reads on, a number of police officers allegedly made their way to Odinga's vehicle and fired approximately 10 rounds of live ammunition at it.

"A subsequent examination of our client's vehicle in the aftermath of the attack shows that the vehicle was skillfully targeted with our client as the actual target," said Awele.

"In the event, there is reasonable cause to believe that specific officers acting on the command of the Inspector General of the National Police Service and/or the State, with malice aforethought, attempted to commit a felony, to cause the death of our client, an offence under the Penal code."

The complaint adds that the actions by the 'rogue' police officers warrant investigations by the police service's Internal Affairs Unit, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).  

Awele added that with the help of the public, Odinga's team has since been able to identify two police officers who allegedly fired live ammunition at the former premiere's vehicle, namely Corporal Silas Kemboi and Police Constable Isaac Ndirangu.

"Please enter this complaint in your occurrence book and issue us with the entry number for our client's records. We look forward to the conduct of speedy and thorough investigations into the complaint," said Awele.