Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's DCP Party has issued a fiery response to remarks by ODM leader Raila Odinga in which he distanced himself from shoot-to-maim orders against protestors issued by President William Ruto.
In a statement on Friday, July 11, DCP Secretary General Cleophas Malala accused Raila of hypocrisy and complicity in the government's violent suppression of protests.
"The recent remarks by ODM leader Raila Odinga, wherein he sought to distance himself from purported 'shoot to kill or maim' directives attributed to President William Ruto and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen against citizens engaged in protests, are noted with profound objection," the statement read.
The party insisted that by his cooperation with the government, Raila bears responsibility for state actions.
"Mr. Odinga's assertions are factually untenable, disingenuous, and contradictory. As an integral member of the present administration, he bears direct responsibility for its actions and is thus complicit in facilitating the alleged human rights violations perpetrated under President Ruto's authority," the statement added.
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DCP went further to claim that ODM has supported police operations during demonstrations by deploying affiliated youth, which have led to violence and destruction.
"Specifically, Mr. Odinga has enabled state excesses through the deployment of ODM-affiliated youth to support police operations during protests. These actions have contributed to documented incidents of violence against peaceful demonstrators, looting, and property destruction," the statement continued.
The party also accused ODM of being silent while its members endorse repressive measures from the state, arguing that such silence amounts to complicity.
"Furthermore, prominent ODM supporters—including elected officials—have publicly endorsed the government's repressive measures, including the aforementioned lethal directives, without censure from party leadership. The ODM's silence amid such endorsements underscores its alignment with state-sanctioned brutality," the statement further read.
DCP concluded by calling on Raila to step aside and allow what he described as principled leaders to champion the people’s cause.
"We urge him to cease these disingenuous public relations exercises and cede space to principled leaders committed to Kenya's liberation. The people of Kenya shall henceforth pursue their rightful struggle alongside such credible representatives," the statement concluded.
Earlier Friday, Raila condemned remarks by Ruto authorizing police officers to shoot individuals vandalizing property during protests.
In a statement, he referred to the directive as a dangerous departure from the rule of law and warned against granting law enforcement illegitimate and deadly powers over citizens.
Rail urged the state to uphold due process and resist the temptation to bypass constitutional protections even when dealing with suspected offenders.
“In a protest or any other environment that requires law enforcement, all the above orders, shoot to kill, maim, disorient or shock citizens, are wrong,” he stated.
Odinga urged the government to abandon the militarized approach to policing, noting that such methods have only escalated violence in other countries across the continent.
“A militarized approach to policing endangers both the suspect and the law enforcement officers,” he affirmed.
