Raila condemns AU, hints he will run for top office

October 22, 2013 BY MAUREEN MUDI

Former PM Raila Odinga signing his book "Flame of Freedom" as his wife Ida looks at KICC yesterday during the launch. Photo/Philip Kamakya

Former PM Raila Odinga signing his book "Flame of Freedom" as his wife Ida looks at KICC yesterday during the launch. Photo/Philip Kamakya

FORMER Prime Minister Raila Odinga has criticised the African Union over its stand on the International Criminal Court.

Speaking to Kenyans in the diaspora and the larger community at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, United States, Raila termed the ICC issue “the elephant in the house” and criticised the AU over its resolution that President Uhuru Kenyatta should not be tried when still in office.

He said it is Kenyans who took themselves to The Hague-based court and “we should not involve the AU in this since it is not a solution to our problem.”

“Very many leaders who are not Africans, have been prosecuted at the ICC, so they should not accuse the court of being racist. That is propaganda,” said Raila.

He said he is not an enemy to the ICC suspects but maintained that they should face the court and, if innocent, be cleared.

The former PM, who was attending the signing of his recently launched autobiography The Flame of Freedom last Friday afternoon, also gave a veiled hint that he will be running for presidency in the next elections.

Before he was welcomed to the floor, retired judge LaJune Lange, from the International Leadership Institute, said Raila has ambitions to vie for the presidency in the next elections.

“Raila hopes to crown his political career by being a presidential contender,” said Lange, shortly before Raila took the stage.

Raila said: “Surrender is not an option, we must continue to carry the flag. People before us paid the ultimate price, we must move up to the top of the mountain with the flag to remember those who did not make it.”

He passionately spoke about how he lost the March 4 general election and reiterated that the judiciary and electoral body ought to be reformed.

“I presented evidence that was more than 800 pages, they expunged it, then they dismissed the case saying I had no evidence yet they threw it out,” Raila said.

He said he realised the country is greater than any individual and sacrificed his ambition for the good of it.

“I didn’t agree with the results and the court ruling but I accepted in the interest of the country. Now that elections are behind us, we are moving forward as a country,” Raila said.

The former PM, who was accompanied by Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi and his Marsabit counterpart, Ukur Yatani, said their mission in the US included learning how devolution works.

He said under the current structures in Kenya, there are two parallel systems of leadership in counties, which is a recipe for chaos.

“We must look at the victims, if these people are innocent, there must be someone who was responsible for the chaos,” he said.