RAILA ODINGA NOW TO BE ARRESTED

Members of state security agencies are sharply divided over a proposal by a section in government to arrest Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, George Wajackoya, Eugene Wamalwa and Jeremiah Kioni who are leading the protests against the government of president William Ruto.

Raila has announced he will lead his supporters to storm State House to protest the high cost of living.

Those who are for the idea that not to allow Raila and his team space to demonstrate argue that it is likely to have negative impact on economic growth as it will scare away investors.

Further, they say the possibility of tribal sentiments emerging cannot be ruled out.

Another fear is that the current hardships Kenyans are experiencing will likely play well in the hands of Raila and his team.

To complicate matters is the slim win President William Ruto got over Raila in the August 9, 2022 general elections.

Fear is that Raila and Azimio commands substantial support across the country which cannot be wished away easily.

Weekly Citizen has information to the effect that ever since Raila declared he will lead demonstrations, various state security agencies have been holding crisis ameetings on how to handle the situation.

First, a decision was reached to have top police officers who were sympathetic to Raila’s 2022 presidential bid removed and transferred to far-flanged areas.

They were replaced by friendly faces in strategic police positions to curb sabotage.

The initial idea was reached to provide security to Raila rallies if peaceful as it has been happening.

However, as Raila scheme has taken new dimension, they have been forced to go back to the drawing board how to handle the emerging scenarios.

Whereas one faction is completely against the demonstrations on grounds that they are illegal and will re- introduce impunity in the political class, pushing for the law to take its course, another side want a neutral apporoach by not allowing local police use force to handle the situation but have the government petition International Criminal Court (ICC) once the situation gets out of control.

Weekly Citizen has information that state security has profiled members of Jeshi La Baba and if need be, can be arrested anytime before the demonstrations first, before top politicians arrests follows as a section in government is fronting.

To avoid troubles, legal advisers close to Ruto want him to invoke a section in the Constitution that gives him powers to stop matters that are bound to affect state security.

Other legal minds are pushing for a petition being filed in court to stop the demonstrations until the case is heard.

Arresting Raila and his team is a big headache to them.

The ODM leader’s twitter account has already received messages from over 10,000 Kenyans ready to join him in storming State House to present the petition.

This has alarmed state security agents to an extent that they are consulting regularly to find a way of containing Azimio.

But other members of security are proposing the Azimio leaders be put under house arrest to stop them from leading the rebellion.

According to the Constitution, the National Security Advisory Council shall comprise the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government, the Deputy President, the Cabinet Secretary for Defence, the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and the President.

Other members of the Security Council include; the Inspector General of the National Police Service (NPS), Chief of Defence Forces, the Attorney General and the Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

Concern even within the Western diplomats is, arresting the Azimio leaders would further polarise the country which is sharply divided along tribal lines, and the only way out is to create positions for the opposition.

They are the so called hardliners in government pushing for the arrest of Raila team arguing the government which has adequate machinery to contain the ODM leader.

They argue that the International Criminal Court might come calling if riot police violently disperse the protestors, which might results into deaths.

They argue that Raila and the other Azimio leaders were not above the law and that if they want to present a petition, they should either give it to Parliament or present it to Harambee House, but not State House which is a protected area and the seat of power.

By weekly citizen