Raila Odinga returns from UK amid political storm over ICC cases

Cord members wave at their supporters during a rally at Kibira 16/04/16 PHOTO MOSES OMUSULA

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is expected back in the country this morning hot on the heels of a raging political storm sparked by his remarks on the ICC cases.

Raila left the country last Sunday for a week-long visit to France and the United Kingdom, where he lampooned The Hague-based court for failing to prosecute crimes against humanity cases against Deputy President William Ruto and radio journalist Joshua Sang'.

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Director of Communications Philip Etale confirmed that Raila left London Saturday night.

While in France, the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader slammed ICC for failing to use recanted evidence in the Kenyan cases, asserting that the decision would breed impunity in Africa.

Raila also went full throttle against the African leaders terming their claims that the court was unfairly targeting African leaders as "hogwash", observing that it was the continent leadership that was taking its people to the court.

The remarks irked President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto who threw back salvo at Raila, accusing him of praying for their jailing over the 2007 post-election violence that claimed 1000 lives.

Uhuru accused Raila of plotting for their jailing so that he could ascend to power, stating that it was wrong for an individual to plan to frame innocent people to gain political power.

But in unapologetic response, the Opposition leader fired back at Uhuru and Ruto criticised them for failing to help the country heal from the effects of the chaos.

Raila chided the duo over their celebration and prayer rally in Nakuru following the termination of cases against the last Ocampo six suspects, and likened it to "dancing on graves of post-election violence victims".

He said there was nothing to celebrate about since some victims were still living in IDP camps, nine years since they were uprooted from their homes.

"Clearly, as a nation, there is nothing to celebrate about. Instead, we have to reflect on the many critical decisions we need to make. We have many people who we still need to condole and reparate and a national sense of justice that needs to be reconfirmed," he said in a statement sent from Britain.

The ruling Jubilee legislator have also joined their party leaders in hitting out at Raila, and accused him of shedding crocodile tears.

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale (Garissa Township), his Senate counterpart Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka Nithi) and Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) said Raila had no moral authority to speak about victims when he had been in government and did not do much to mitigate their plight.

They claimed Raila was bitter that the accused had finally being acquitted and was now using the "co-owners of ICC to find a way of salvaging the cases".