Two events happened on Wednesday that captured the nation’s attention: The Riggy G versus Ruto funeral service at Ol Kalau and more significantly and the planned assault of Vihiga Senator Geoffrey Osotsi.

The first event was about the power of the people led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagwa versus the state while the Kisumu one was about the power of the state, through its goons, over an unarmed and unguarded senator.

This criminal act is one among many that continue being pushed under the carpet by the Kenyan people and the Ruto government.

Lest we forget, such brutal attacks, disappearances, extrajudicial killings and assassination have parallels in the East African Community. If the rule of law, constitutionalism and principles of democracy were to apply, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni are illegally in power. They shed innocent blood to retain power. There are indications President William Ruto is following the same script.

Osotsi’s tragedy represents a step up in the ranking of targets by the Ruto-commanded terror gangs. Check! First, it was a “mere” mechanic shot dead in Kitengela in Kajiado County. Now it is a senator beaten to pulp.

I can’t forget the kick by that fat man on Osotsi’s face. Thank God the kick did not get his neck and thank God too that it was not under the cover of darkness.

In Kitengela, the murderer was inspired by the knowledge and understanding that immunity from punishment is official policy under William Ruto. A Kenyan mechanic was needlessly, unjustifiably and maliciously shot dead by Ruto’s terror squad during the Linda Mwanainchi rally in Kitengela town.

True to expectation, no arrests have been made. We have also gone quiet perhaps awaiting another crime of similar magnitude. Yeah! We had it yesterday in Kisumu. The crime and silence are building up to a ‘crescendo’ – assassination.

When the Kitengela murder happened, I called Senator Osotsi and told him:

“Brother! We must raise the political price of murder. Anytime the government kills a citizen, it should know that it will face endless repercussions. We need to sit down and develop a chain of responses to state terror. This habit of pushing crimes under the carpet will encourage the Ruto administration to launch political assassinations.”

The senator agreed with me and requested me to join them in the Kakamega rally where we would find time and talk. I drove there from Nairobi and attended their two rallies but failed to meet him. However, he later told me that the decision to visit the family of the Kitengela victim was inspired by my talk with him.

I am yet to make it to a favourable position on his list of priorities for a meeting. Unfortunately, my younger comrade has fallen victim to what I wanted us to pre-empt. This is both an accusation and a reflection. My point is implied.

We have watched numerous attacks on Rigy G gatherings. No arrests yet. This was evidently a test of the waters. Silence has inspired them to go higher in both the quality and rank of the target. I take the Osotsi attack as an assassination rehearsal. The targets are obvious.  

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi faction of ODM has been giving the ‘Blood-Based Government’ a real headache. No member of the faction is immune to Ruto bloodhounds.

When Ruto said at the Ol Kalau funeral service that he will respond to his “critics with action” that, in my understanding, extends to the political realm. Osotsi has received his share of state response for frustrating the UDA/ODM coalition.

Osotsi’s attackers kept asking him why he is opposed to Ruto. Counter-argument in politics is not opposition. And there is nothing criminal about opposition as provided for in the constitution.

If we don’t get organised under a leadership chosen by our national political circumstances, we are in trouble. The opposition boardroom must give us a warrior for a leader, not handshake material.

Some questions need answers. Who should lead us in Ruto’s war against our people and their leaders? Who has the balls to taken on Ruto without a handshake as an end-game? Do we realise by these criminal acts that Ruto is inviting us to a different type of contest in 2027?

The Osotsi matter aside, Ruto’s Ol Kalau funeral service speech has lessons: the power of the people! The president was lectured by Riggy G courtesy of “People’s Power”. The police attempted to mess up the funeral service but the “president of the day”, Riggy G, called them to order and they obeyed. This is what we need to invest in.

Organised, under a no nonsense leadership, politically drilled, inspired by the spirit of freedom, treading in the footsteps of the Gen Zee and the Mau, committed to seeing Ruto out of our way, honest enough to acknowledge that Ruto wants war not democracy, prepared to fight beyond the limits of the law, we as a people will liberate Kenya from the criminals that nearly killed Senator Geoffrey Osotsi.

You will recover!

• A Tell Media report / By Mitchel Juma Oundo and Wafula Buke. Mr Buke is former political detainee and current strategy advisor of presidential aspirant Fred Matiang’i