Group linked to ‘destabilisation plot’ is mine, says Okiya Omtatah

Updated Monday, July 22nd 2013 at 00:16 GMT +3
By Geoffrey Mosoku and Cyrus Ombati
Nairobi, Kenya: A fresh twist is emerging over summons issued to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s aide Eliud Owalo to, again, appear before the police over allegations of a plot to destabilise the Government.
Owalo will this morning appear before CID as civil rights activist Okiya Omtatah wrote to the police demanding to know why they are linking his initiative the March Four Movement (M4M) to the alleged subversive activities.
Police had claimed Owalo is behind M4M and has been recruiting youth at his Hurlingham office with a view of causing mass disobedience.
And it emerged police have summoned a number of youths allied to CORD for similar grilling. They are likely to face the detectives this week.
Campaign
The case is being handled by Inspector Geoffrey Kinyua and Inspector David Cheruiyot of Serious Crime Unit at CID.
Omtatah wrote to head of Serious Crime Unit John Kariuki saying the movement was his brainchild and wondered why the officers are linking it to Owalo and the other group.
He said M4M is an original idea and initiative of Kenyans for Justice and Development (KEJUDE) Trust.
“M4M is a progressive and an above the board campaign aimed at amending Article 138 of the Constitution to move the country from the so-called ‘tyranny of numbers’ to ‘safety of numbers’,” said Omtatah.
He added M4M has no concerns about or relations to any current political formations and their main and only concern is designing an electoral system that will eventually get Kenyans to vote on policy platforms and not tribal affiliations.
He said they have absolutely no plans to disrupt anything or to hold Egypt-style protests and they have received no funding from any quarters although they intend to solicit for funding from any lawful entities.

“Currently, we are fully dependent on a nationwide network of volunteers, who are working hard to roll out the campaign. On April 3, we wrote to IEBC chair through the Executive Officer notifying the commission of our popular initiative to amend Article 138 of the Constitution.”
He added M4M will soon launch a signature campaign. “We hope the police will give us the support and protection we require to initiate an amendment to the Constitution via a popular initiative as provided for in Article 257.â
Omtatah provided copies of KEJUDE’s letter to the IEBC, Signature Collection Form, M4M brochure in English and Swahili to the media.