Friday, May 24, 2024 –Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga has released a statement to quell mismatch of information on the presence of opposition politicians in the William Ruto five-day visit in the United States of America.
In a four-paragraph long open letter to the public, Mr. Odinga admitted allowing his team to join President William Ruto under the invitation of the US government.
“All Azimio leaders accompanying the president were invited by the US government and have my permission to join the president on this mission, in line with the established democratic traditions and the wider interest of the Kenyan people, that Azimio stands for,” he explained as seen by Kenyawide.com.
Odinga further explained that, what has happened now is in line with what happened when Barrack Obama was still in power. According to Mr. Odinga, the Obama tour to Kenya saw him also accompanied by opposition leaders from the U.S. This delegation also met the opposition leadership in Kenya.
“The bipartisan delegation is in line with similar delegation to Kenya by top leaders, including the then president of U.S Barrack Obama which had Republican and Congressional leaders,” the opposition boss broke down the events in his statement.
Raila also reminded his supporters and those who are still in doubt to remember that such delegation have been in Kenya, subsequently.
The ODM Party leader, however, urged those accompanying Ruto to utilise the time well and help the U.S to focus more on what matters to the people of Kenya.
Odinga’s statement coming just minutes after a section of the country wondered why senior opposition figures, among them, Governor Gladys Wanga as well as Minority leader in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi were with the president in the U.S.
Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly MCA Robert Alai had, earlier in the day, also used part pf the photos from the U.S to remind his party that it was wrong to question his recent attendance at the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s meeting.
“If there was fear that UDA was poaching ODM leaders because an ODM MCA attended Deputy President’s event, we must fear that the president has now poached the whole of ODM with this. Chama imeenda Jamani! Show Cause my leader Opiyo Wandayi. Explain yourself,” posed Alai.
Mr. Alai was, days ago, summoned to explain why he attended the deputy president’s meeting held in Nairobi.