NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 11 – The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has summoned Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga over the ‘Madoadoa’ remarks he made during a rally in Wajir on Wednesday.
In a statement, NCIC chairman Samuel Kobia stated that the body will be seeking to get an explanation from Odinga over the use of the word.
“The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has today summoned HE Rt Honorable
Prime Minister Raila Odinga in response to remarks made in his meeting in Wajir county on 9th March 2022.In his remarks, he mentioned the term ‘Madoadoa ‘which is considered a hate speech term in Kenya,” he stated.
Odinga used the word that recently landed Meru Senator Mithika Linturi in trouble.
“As my soldiers you must be armed and have ammunition. By that I mean you need to have
a voter’s card and a national identify card,” he said.
“We want you to elect Azimio candidates. We don’t want madoadoa (spots),” the presumed candidate of the Azimio Movement told his followers.
Deputy President William Ruto’s allies have been calling for swift action from investigative agencies.
While the madoadoa phrase is often used to rally voters behind what is termed as a six-piece voting where parties urge their constituents to elect candidates in all elective posts from their outfits, it also carries a negative connotation of ethnic cleansing.
The madoadoa phrase featured prominently in Kenya’s cases at the Hague-based International Criminal Court where six Kenyans were charged over the Post-Election Violence that claimed 1,100 lives and saw over 600,000 people displaced.
The post-election chaos broke out after Odinga’s camp which led the main opposition in a contest against then President Mwai Kibaki rejected the outcome of the 2007 General Election citing rigging of the presidential election.
Odinga’s allies at the time — Ruto, Henry Kosgei and radio journalist Joshua arap Sang — ended up in the Hague over the mayhem.
On Kibaki’s side, ICC indicted Uhuru Kenyatta, Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura and Commissioner of Police Mohammed Hussein.
The cases against all the six individuals which had been labeled by critics as politically engineered collapsed after most witnesses recanted their statements.
Raila will face Ruto in the August 9 presidential election.
