Raila Accuses President Ruto of Personal Vendetta Against Former DCI Director George Kinoti

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has accused President Ruto of orchestrating a politically-motivated witch-hunt against current and former State officials whom he differed with before assuming office.

Odinga, who addressed the media on Thursday, cited Ruto’s purported probe into cases of extra-judicial killings by officers attached to the DCI’s Special Service Unit (SSU), which has since been disbanded. He claimed the investigation is turning into a personal vendetta against former DCI director George Kinoti and a few police officers. 

“We are concerned about the so-called probe into the extra-judicial executions which is turning into a witch-hunt against former DCI boss, Mr George Kinoti and some few police officers. We believe in the sanctity of life, the rule of law, in the due process... we believe that all, not some, cases or suspected cases of extra-judicial executions need to be investigated and those responsible punished,” said Odinga.

“We are opposed to the current trend directed by our vindictive regime and the president that seems to be pursuing a personal vendetta against specific current and past state officers in the pretext of pursuing extra-judicial executions,” he added.

Terming Ruto’s administration as a “one-man regime that is quickly turning its back on Kenyans”, Odinga vowed to resist attempts to selectively punish State officers for doing their jobs.

“William Ruto’s grudge against George Kinoti and the DCI started way before the elections. Ruto appears to believe that the coming of the UDA regime is an opportunity for him to punish State officers he long had a grudge against. We’re here to say no!” Odinga said.

The Azimio coalition party leader called for a thorough probe into the numerous other brutal killings by police, including the 2020 death of Sergeant Kipyegon Kenei, a security officer attached to Ruto’s office.

“Ruto seems to be looking for some Indians whom he lost during the August elections. Those Indians were human beings and deserve to live and we pray that justice shall be done in their case,” he said.

“But as Mr Ruto mounts a search for the Indians, whoever and whatever they were to him, we want an equally vigorous search established to find the truth behind the disappearance and death of tens of Kenyans.”