Cord to invite ICC to investigate killings during protests

Cord leaders Raila Odinga, Moses Wetangula and Kalonzo Musyoka during a press conference.


The Cord coalition says it will move to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to seek civil and criminal investigations over the 'brutal' killings of its supporters in Kisumu, Siaya and Homa Bay counties by the police, during the anti-IEBC protests. 

According to Cord, police have continued to brutalise, beat, maim and kill protesters despite the courts upholding its long standing argument that demonstrations, picketing, protests and presentation of petitions to public officers are protected by the Constitution. 

Cord co-conveners Senator James Orengo and MP Eseli Simiyu said Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet and the Nairobi County Commander Japheth Koome will individually and personally be held liable for the killings and brutality during the demonstrations. 

''Cord resolves to begin civil and criminal proceedings against individual police officers who have beaten, brutalized, shot and killed protesters in recent days. The Coalition also resolves to institute similar civil and criminal proceedings against the Inspector General of Police Joseph Bionet and the Nairobi County Commander Japheth Koome individually and personally for the brutality meted on and murder of the protesters," said Cord. 

The Coalition also condemned in very strong terms what it termed as the seeming ethnic profiling that is being applied by police in handling the protests. 

Addressing the press in Nairobi after holding its 2nd Parliamentary Group meeting of the year at the Wiper Democratic Party headquarters, Cord resolved that a pathway to dialogue on IEBC ought to be structured and that any such structured meeting will be at the highest level and that the principals of Cord will nominate those who will engage in the dialogue, reporting to the principals.

At least four people have lost their lives since Cord started protesting against IEBC.

The coalition claimed the police are targeting supporters in its strongholds, particularly Kisumu, Siaya and Homa Bay counties. 

Several others have been injured during the demos, including the police.