Raila Odinga and his Azimio La Umoja opposition coalition are calling for the Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kithure Kindiki, to come to Parliament.
They want him to explain the recent violent clashes in Sondu, which is on the border of Kericho and Kisumu.
They are also concerned about the government’s plan to send Kenyan security forces to Haiti.
Odinga and his team wonder why Kindiki has not said anything about the Sondu clashes that have resulted in deaths and injuries.
Odinga said, “How come the Interior minister is silent on this matter? He has not visited the scene…
This means that there is something the Government knows about the Sondu insecurity that Kenyans do not know”
The Azimio coalition believes that important figures, including leaders and politicians from Kericho and the national government, are involved in the violence in Sondu.
They think these individuals are behind the clashes and chaos in the area.
Eugene Wamalwa, the leader of the DAP-K Party, read a statement on behalf of Azimio, saying, “We view these latest incidents in Sondu as part of a long, off and on history of violence instigated by politicians who have on numerous occasions incited the different communities against each local leaders who has been implicated in these activities.”
Azimio also claims that leaders from Kericho County want to include Sondu town in their territory during the upcoming boundary delimitation process by the IEBC.
“We view these latest incidents in Sondu as part of a long, off and on history of violence instigated by politicians who have on numerous occasions incited the different communities against each local leader who has been implicated in these activities,” said Azimio
They accuse these leaders of trying to expand Kericho County’s borders to claim Sondu town.
Azimio believes that this violence is being funded by local politicians who want to gain part of Kisumu County during the boundary review.
“These leaders must abandon their expansionist tendency through which they are seeking to extend the boundary of Kericho County with a view to claiming Sondu town.”
“We are convinced that this violence is being sponsored by local politicians who have set their claiming part of Kisumu County during the envisaged boundary review,” added Azimio.
Regarding the plan to send Kenyan security officers to Haiti, the opposition coalition is concerned.
They want Kindiki to explain why the government is not focusing on the security situation within Kenya, particularly in areas like Sondu, North Rift, North Eastern, and Lamu. They question Kenya’s readiness for this “high-risk mission” in Haiti.
The opposition leaders also wonder if Kenyan police officers, who do not speak French or Creole, are adequately prepared for this mission.
“Are our Police, most of whom speak neither French nor Creole and will find themselves in strange terrain, sufficiently prepared for this high-risk mission or Ruto is ready to sacrifice innocent Kenya blood for American dollars and international recognition?” posed the Opposition.
The Raila Odinga-led coalition believes that Kenya is under-policed.
They point out that the recommended UN police-to-citizens ratio is 1 police officer for every 400 people, but in Kenya, it’s currently one officer for over 1000 people.
“As a country, we are actually under-policed.
The recommended UN police-to-citizens ratio is 1 police officer for every 400 people.
In Kenya, the police to people ratio stands at one officer for over 1000 people,” they said.
