Jubilee targets Luos for killings, says Cord

Cord leaders want Jubilee to respond to allegations Luos are being targetted for extrajudicial killings.

Speaking on Wednesday during a prayer rally for the three people killed during the May 23 anti-IEBC protests in Kisumu, the leaders told the Jubilee government to explain why Luos were killed and injured in Nyanza during the demonstrations.

Cord leader Raila Odinga said police have no right to use excessive force against protestors. He told off police spokesperson Charles Owino over what he termed “reckless talk” on police shootings.

“Picketing and demonstrations are allowed by law and nobody has a right to justify killings like Owino is doing,” Raila said.

Owino told the Star on the phone police are justified to use firearms if their lives are threatened.

“I have advised that nobody should throw stones at police officers because they can easily be shot. Police are armed and you cannot face them with stones,” he said. Owino denied claims specific communities are being targetted. He said it is “reckless” for leaders to make such allegations.

During the prayer rally, leaders said they will “mobilise our people to defend themselves”.

Present were Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, Senators Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Johnstone Muthama (Machakos), Moses Kajwang’ (Homa Bay), Mombasa woman representative Mishi Mboko and nominated MP Oburu Oginga

Joho said, “We must be told why whenever there are protests in Central Kenya, nobody is shot dead or injured by the police.” Oburu said, “President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy cannot make us helpless. If this ethnic profiling continues then we will tell our people to start preparing themselves.”

Governor Jack Ranguma, Cord leader Raila Odinga and Governor Hassan Joho in Kisumu town on ursday / SAMUEL SIMITI

Courtesy of the star