CORD leader Raila Odinga claims businessman Jacob Juma was executed

CORD Leader Raila Odinga consoles Mrs. Miriam Juma, the wife of the late Businessman Jacob Juma at Lee funeral home who was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Nairobi in macabre murder. 06/05/2016. Photo by WILLIS AWANDU/STANDARD

CORD leader Raila Odinga has sensationally claimed that businessman Jacob Juma was executed.

Speaking at Lee Funeral home in Nairobi where he had gone to view Juma’s body, Raila said he last spoke to the deceased on Thursday.

“Juma called me on Thursday at around noon and said he wanted to speak to me urgently. He was a worried man. But I couldn’t meet him because I had a lunch date and later went to Parliament. I told him we will talk in the evening but unfortunately, that is the last time we spoke,” he said.

He added, “He had predicted his death. His death seems to have been planned in advance. This is an extra-judicial killing. I am in a state of shock. They have killed my friend by spraying bullets in his right hand, neck and stomach.”

The former Prime Minister condemned extra-judicial killings saying: “Mungiki members have been killed, Imams have been killed, Meshack Yebei was kidnapped in Eldoret and his body dumped in Tsavo and many more continue to be killed this way.”

He said it is useless to call for investigations into the murder because they don’t yield results. “People who are supposed to investigate are the killers. I call upon Kenyans to resist this state of anarchy. We can’t live in a country where security agents meant to protect people are the ones eliminating them,” Raila said.

The former premier suspects that Juma might have been killed due to his stand against corruption.

“He was an active, un-cowed person. He had a lot of information on the Eurobond scandal. This might have been the cause of his death by those uncomfortable with him,” Raila said.

He asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to ensure safety of all Kenyans as provided for by the Constitution.

The CORD leader had earlier visited the late businessman’s family at his Karen home to condole with them.

The deceased’s widow Miriam Juma was in shock and couldn’t address the media.

A section of legislators drawn from Western, yesterday condemned the killing of the controversial businessman.

The five MPs called on the government to immediately constitute a commission of inquiry into the murder, saying the deceased was vocal on corruption.

They want the police to interrogate individuals Juma had claimed were threatening him. The lawmakers led by Senate Minority Senator Moses Wetang’ula (Bungoma) termed the death of the businessman, fondly referred to as JJ, as having serious security connotations.

“We want the government to come clean on this matter and tell Kenyans who has assassinated Juma. It should not be lost that JJ has been exposing detailed information on his social media platform on issues like Eurobond, Sh791 million National Youth Service scam and the Langata Road Primary land grabbing attempts, among others,” said Mr Wetang’ula.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale urged the police to summon all those mentioned by Juma in his social media platform to shed light on what they know. “JJ was a serious anti-corruption crusader. We want clarity over his death. We will not keep quiet until we get all the details,” vowed Dr Khalwale.

They addressed a press conference at Parliament Buildings, accompanied by MPs Esseli Simiyu (Tongaren), Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini) and Jared Opiyo (Awendo).

“We want the government to move with speed and form a commission of inquiry. Kenya has no more room for such political assassinations. The death of Juma is unfortunate,” said Wamalwa.

The MPs faulted the government for not taking threats to Juma’s life seriously.