INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE’

In a letter posted on the Internet the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keriako Tobiko, has declared that Ruth Odinga, the former Deputy Governor for Kisumu County and the sister of main opposition Nasa leader, Raila Odinga, is to be charged with ‘incitement to violence’. Also on the charge sheet is serving Senator Fred Outa.

The charges come in the wake of violent scenes last week in the Kisumu area when training sessions for election of officers were disrupted by youths allegedly supporters of Odinga. During the attacks tents and materials were destroyed and election officials were terrorised.

Other charges announced in the DPP’s statement are destruction of property, obstruction of election officers, and trespassing in an electoral centre.

“The suspects should immediately be charged”, the DPP’s statement says.

With Kenya’s re-run presidential election due to take place on Thursday of this week but with opposition leader Raila Odinga saying he will not take part in the poll, the charges against Ruth Odinga and Senator Outa will inflame an already tense situation. It could be argued however, that the attacks on election officials in Kisumu was also meant to do just that.