Raila step brother fights for Ocampo Four rights

MONDAY, 16 APRIL 2012 23:52 BY JUSTUS OCHIENG

PRIME Minister Raila Odinga’s step-brother Isaac Omondi has said he is ready to spearhead the collection of one million signatures in Nyanza region aimed at deferring Kenyan cases at the ICC.

Speaking at an elders’ consultative forum at the Kisumu ASK showground at the weekend, Omondi said there is need for the region to show solidarity with other regions in the quest to have the cases against Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto, Francis Muthaura and Joshua Sang postponed. “The four leaders indicted by the ICC are our brothers and we should not be alienated from the quest to support them by collecting signatures to push for deferral of their cases,” Omondi said.

Gema, an association bringing together the Gikuyu, Embu and the Meru has resolved to collect more two million signatures to petition the ICC to postpone the trial of DPM Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, radio presenter Joshua arap Sang and former head of public service Francis Muthaura. They want the cases to be postponed until after the general election to allow ‘free and fair elections.’

The Kamatusa meeting comprising of Kalenjin, Maasai, Turkana and Samburu has also resolved to support the ICC suspects. The move to collect signatures in support of the Ocampo four has, however, been condemned by human rights bodies. The rights defenders argue that the move is a futile exercise aimed at derailing justice for the victims of the post-election violence.

But Omondi’s gesture is seen as a plot aimed at rallying members of the Luo community to offer support to the ICC suspects. “We believe the post-election violence occurred spontaneously and there is need for the country to unite in this course to help our brothers,” Omondi said.

Speaking while accompanied by elders, Samuel Odipo Auko (Homabay county), Obado Manyala (Kisumu county), Peter Ofumba (Siaya county), Alfred Abong’o Oriyo (Kisumu county) and URP activist George Ayugi, Omondi said he will also launch a peace campaign initiative to enhance unity among different communities. “It is high time we look beyond self interests and pursue unity of purpose so that this country does not once again plunge into chaos,” he said.