Vihiga senator Godfrey Osotsi has formally recorded a statement with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers at Bunge Police Station in Nairobi over the recent attack by suspected goons inside JAVA hotel in Kisumu county.
Accompanied by members of the Linda Wananchi team on Tuesday, April 14, Osotsi demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of those alleged to have orchestrated the attack against him in Kisumu.
Top lawyer and Siaya governor James Orengo is leading a team of politically exposed lawyers in the push to get justice for Osotsi who nearly lost his life during the incident.
Orengo, senator Edwin Sifuna and Babu Owino, all lawyers and members of the abrasive Linda Mwananchi faction of ODM, to which Osotsi subscribes to launched the case at the Bunge police in a bid to pile political pressure and maximise visibility over the savage attack.
The Sifuna – Babu Owino and united opposition accuse UDA top officials from Nyanza of masterminding the attack that nearly claimed the life of Osotsi.
The leaders are calling for swift action, claiming they have what they describe as “overwhelming” evidence linking a senior state officer to the incident.
They warned that they will pursue private prosecution if state agencies fail to promptly arrest and charge the officer.
Orengo said they are dissatisfied with the way investigations into the attack on the Vihiga senator are being conducted.
“I have taken the role of lead counsel for my colleague, Linda Mwananchi Principal Sen. Godfrey Osotsi, regarding the recent assault in Kisumu. Today, we joined him at the Bunge Police Station in Nairobi to formally document his statement. Alongside my learned friends Edwosin Sifuna and Babu Owino, we are dedicated to pursuing full accountability for both the attackers and their sponsors. Justice will not be deterred by violence,” Orengo said.
Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna said the group has enough evidence linking senior government officials in the security sector to the goons who attacked Osotsi.
“If the weight of evidence cannot compel the police to act against the gangsters themselves, the masterminds behind these goons, then there is effectively no law enforcement. There is no law. And the situation is so bad that the people who are behind these goons are themselves in law enforcement. I don’t know how bad it can get in a country when the people who are charged with protecting the public are the ones actually attacking people at restaurants,” Sifuna said.
Sifuna further announced that the Linda Mwananchi group will hold a major political rally in Kisumu County on April 26 to thank the residents for unmasking people who attacked the Vihiga senator.
“We will come to Kisumu on April 26 to thank the people of Kisumu in person for the work that they have done in unmasking these criminals. So after Nakuru this weekend, this Sunday, we will be in Kisumu on April 26. The message that we are sending is that the people Kisumu themselves are a peaceful people,” he announced.
