David Kimutai Too
Encyclopedia
David Kimutai Too was a Kenyan politician affiliated to the Orange Democratic Movement
(ODM). He was a high school teacher and then a headmaster from Kericho
in central Kenya before being elected to the National Assembly
from Ainamoi Constituency
from a field of 13 candidates in the December 2007 parliamentary election
. Charles Keter, a fellow Member of Parliament, described Too as "a very humble, quiet man." The "List of alleged perpetrators" of the 2007/2008 post-electoral violence of the Kenya National Human Rights Commission however lists him among the suspects on place 3 (page 180) and charges him with "planning, incitement, and financing the violence".
.
He was 39 years old at the time of his death. He was killed along with his girlfriend, policewoman Eunice Chepkwony, who was also dating the police officer who shot them, Andrew Moache, according to the official account of the incident. The Police Spokesman said that: Too and Chepkwony were driving by Chepkwony's house on the outskirts of Eldoret
when Moache appeared on a motorcycle. He shot her in the stomach and Too in the head after accusing her of cheating on him. David Too died right away, and Eunice died while undergoing treatment at a hospital.
in the elections and was the second member of parliament of the ODM party killed that week (the first was Melitus Mugabe Were). Kenyan government officials rushed to deny any claims that it was politically motivated, claiming that it was a "crime of passion". However, rioters and the opposition movement denied this explanation, the ODM calling it an assassination, accusing the government of seeking to reduce the number of ODM Members of Parliament. Mediation talks with Kofi Annan were temporarily halted and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon
announced that he would come to Kenya to assist in the mediation process.
Too's funeral, widely attended by opposition leaders, was held on February 9 in Chepkioyo. ODM Secretary-General Anyang Nyongo said at the funeral that "the blood of David Too must run to the door of those who stole the election". The subsequent Ainamoi constituency by-election was won by his brother Benjamin Langat.
Orange Democratic Movement
Orange Democratic Movement refers to a political party in Kenya, which is the successor of a former grassroots people's movement which was formed in the 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum. The erstwhile single party which separated in August 2007 into two...
(ODM). He was a high school teacher and then a headmaster from Kericho
Kericho
Kericho is a Kenyan County located to the South West of the country and lies within the highlands west of The Great Rift Valley. The capital of the district is Kericho town. The district home to the best of Kenyan Tea which is world famous for its brightness, attractive color, brisk flavor and...
in central Kenya before being elected to the National Assembly
National Assembly of Kenya
The unicameral National Assembly of Kenya is the country's legislative body.The current National Assembly has a total of 224 members. 210 members are directly elected in single member constituencies using the simple majority system...
from Ainamoi Constituency
Ainamoi Constituency
Ainamoi is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of three constituencies of Kericho District. The constituency was established for the 1997 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Locations and wards :...
from a field of 13 candidates in the December 2007 parliamentary election
Kenyan parliamentary election, 2007
Parliamentary elections in Kenya were held as part of the Kenyan general election on December 27, 2007; presidential elections were held on the same date....
. Charles Keter, a fellow Member of Parliament, described Too as "a very humble, quiet man." The "List of alleged perpetrators" of the 2007/2008 post-electoral violence of the Kenya National Human Rights Commission however lists him among the suspects on place 3 (page 180) and charges him with "planning, incitement, and financing the violence".
Death
Too was shot dead by Andrew Moache, a policeman, on January 31, 2008. The shooting occurred during the same period as the rioting that swept Kenya following the disputed Kenyan 2007 presidential electionKenyan presidential election, 2007
A presidential election was held as part of the Kenyan general election on December 27, 2007; parliamentary elections were held on the same date. Incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner and sworn in on December 30, despite opposition leader Raila Odinga's claims of victory...
.
He was 39 years old at the time of his death. He was killed along with his girlfriend, policewoman Eunice Chepkwony, who was also dating the police officer who shot them, Andrew Moache, according to the official account of the incident. The Police Spokesman said that: Too and Chepkwony were driving by Chepkwony's house on the outskirts of Eldoret
Eldoret
Eldoret is a town in western Kenya and the administrative centre of Uasin Gishu District of Rift Valley Province. Lying south of the Cherangani Hills, the local elevation varies from about 2100 metres above sea level at the airport to more than 2700 metres in nearby areas...
when Moache appeared on a motorcycle. He shot her in the stomach and Too in the head after accusing her of cheating on him. David Too died right away, and Eunice died while undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Aftermath
Too's death sparked more riots, as public opinion- in part shaped by the utterances of ODM bigwigs- was that it was politically motivated since he was a member of the Kalenjin tribe which heavily supported Raila OdingaRaila Odinga
Raila Amollo Odinga , also popularly known to Kenyans as Agwambo, is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as the Prime Minister of Kenya in a coalition government. He has served as a Member of Parliament for Langata since 1992, was Minister of Energy from 2001 to 2002, and was Minister of Roads,...
in the elections and was the second member of parliament of the ODM party killed that week (the first was Melitus Mugabe Were). Kenyan government officials rushed to deny any claims that it was politically motivated, claiming that it was a "crime of passion". However, rioters and the opposition movement denied this explanation, the ODM calling it an assassination, accusing the government of seeking to reduce the number of ODM Members of Parliament. Mediation talks with Kofi Annan were temporarily halted and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
announced that he would come to Kenya to assist in the mediation process.
Too's funeral, widely attended by opposition leaders, was held on February 9 in Chepkioyo. ODM Secretary-General Anyang Nyongo said at the funeral that "the blood of David Too must run to the door of those who stole the election". The subsequent Ainamoi constituency by-election was won by his brother Benjamin Langat.