Sudi: Kinoti's attempts to reopen PEV cases will reopen old wound

Kapseret MP Oscar Kipchumba Sudi during a press conference on Tuesday in Eldoret. [Christopher Kipsang, Standard]

Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi has criticised the move by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss George Kinoti to reopen to the 2007/08 Post-election violence cases.

In a 20-minute video shared on Facebook Tuesday, Sudi said Kinoti’s sentiments on Monday could only roll back the strides leaders made to guarantee peace in the region. 

Speaking in the same breath, Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago challenged Kinoti’s directive on Monday saying that such a move is similar to scratching a healed wound.

“Some things are not worth reviving and weaving emotions especially on matters where communities have come together, forgiven each other and moved on,” said Mandago.

While launching the process of recording homicide and land displacement cases on Monday at the DCI headquarters, in Kiambu, the DCI boss said whatever happened in 2007 will not happen again adding that all perpetrators would face the law.

“Not again will we go collect bodies using lorries and have mass graves. If it's like that then it will be us and not you (the people) again,” said Mr Kinoti.

According to Kinoti, the decision to open the cases was prompted by fresh threats and intimidations to some victims of the violence similar to what was seen back in 2007.

On Tuesday, the DCI boss clarified his position on Monday saying that he would not re-open closed cases but “investigate all reported threats to security and sensitize the public on the needs for peaceful co-existence”.

The DCI says that 17 politicians among them MCA, Governors, MPs and cabinet secretaries are being investigated for ethnically profiling communities with plans to cause chaos ahead of the 2022 elections.

As of Monday, November 23, 2020, the DCI says 118 people have already recorded statements and is calling for more to come to seek justice.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Deputy President (DP) William Ruto called Kinoti’s initiative “an evil attempt to resuscitate the tribe project”.

Leaders allied to the DP led by Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika and Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen accused the DCI of playing games with national security.