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{
    "id": 70774,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/70774/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 320,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The death of Dr. Robert Ouko was not the first time that Kenya faced such circumstances. Before the death of Dr. Ouko and in a period of less than 40 years, we had several politically connected deaths including that of Dr. Pio Gama Pinto in 1965, Mr. Thomas Joseph Mboya on 5th July, 1969 and Mr. J.M. Kariuki on 3rd March, 1975. That is before Dr. Ouko’s death on 13th February, 1990 and also that of Dr. Antony Wambua Ndilinge on 2nd August, 2001 which was also subject to another investigation by a Committee of this House. Mr. Pio da Gama Pinto who was a specially elected Member for the First Parliament between 1963 to 1969 was of Asian origin and was reportedly killed by a lone gunman in the Parklands area within Nairobi. Frantic police investigations zeroed in on a Mr. Kisilu Munyao who was expeditiously arraigned in court and sentenced to life imprisonment. Mr. Kisilu was released under the Presidential prerogative of mercy on 12th December, 2003. At the time of Mr. Pinto’s death, his colleagues, hon. Members, went no further than raise a number of questions demanding explanations. Mr. T.J. Mboya who was a Member of Parliament for Kamukunji Constituency and an accomplished trade unionist died at the hands of an assassin on 5th July, 1969 resulting in prolonged bitter and ugly mass action in many parts of the country. At the time of T.J. Mboya’s death, there was little doubt that he was an accomplished nationalist and internationally recognized leader. Mr. J.M. Kariuki, whose death occurred in, perhaps, one of the most mysterious circumstances, came at a time when he was at the peak of his political career. Mr. J.M. Kariuki was serving his third straight stint as the Parliament for Nyandarua Constituency. A Report of this House implicated a number of senior Government officials including the then Commandant of the GSU. But, despite the recommendations of this House, nothing resulted. The same is so in relation to Dr. Ouko’s death. That is why I opened with the observation that the events that are taking place in just over two hours at the Hague ought to be a pointer to this country that we are doing away with the culture of impunity that has been the characteristic hallmark of Kenya’s political history. Dr. Ouko’s death was initially investigated by the police in Kenya, by the New Scotland Yard at the request of the Government of Kenya, by a Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Gicheru and by a further police investigation headed by one, Crispo Willis Ongoro, a Deputy Commissioner of Police. I do not wish to go into the whole details because the circumstances are public knowledge. But it is important to remind Kenyans that on the night of his disappearance, the evidence indicated that Dr. Ouko spent the whole of Monday 12th February, 1990 at his home in Koru and that there was failure of electricity. According to those who were at the scene initially, including Mr. Zablon Agallo Obonyo, an AP assigned to guard the home, he had warned the employees from venturing out of the houses when they heard any strange noises at night. So, it is like he had a premonition and following his death, there were searches and the Government eventually announced the death and thus, precipitating the crisis that we all know about. Judging from the massive evidence presented to the Select Committee by various witnesses, it is clear that the death of Dr. Ouko had far reaching effect on a cross section of Kenyans and the international community. That was illustrated by the many messages of condolences that were sent."
}