Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has dismissed claims that he organized the heckling of ODM leader Raila Odinga at Gusii Stadium in Kisii.
In a statement on Sunday, March 9, Onyonka distanced himself from the incident, stating that he was away on work-related duties in Mombasa.
He further denied any association with the large turnout of Shabana FC fans at the stadium, arguing that their support for the team is well known.
"It is unreasonably absurd for someone to imagine that an individual can mobilize/pay more than 15,000 passionate football fans to attend a football match, something they have always done unrelentlessly before without any iota of influence from anyone.
"Shabana fans are known worldwide for giving unequivocal support to their team. It is an insult to them, for anyone to purport that they get paid to attend matches," he said.
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Onyonka termed the events regrettable but suggested that they should serve as a wake-up call for political players to assess the growing resistance to Raila in Kisii.
"The events that happened in Kisii this afternoon are regrettable. Nevertheless, this should serve as a wake-up call to the concerned players to scrutinize and know why the people are/were resisting Baba Raila Odinga in Kisii," he noted.
Onyonka noted that he has never been involved in political violence, further calling for political tolerance and urged the public to embrace peace in the future.
"Violence and chaos have never been my cup of tea for the more than two decades that I have actively participated in politics. My constituents can attest to this. I discourage political intolerance and call upon our people to act with restraint and soberness in the future," he added.
On Sunday, Raila encountered a hostile reception at Gusii Stadium as a section of the crowd heckled and jeered him.
Raila was attending the official launch of Shabana FC’s new kits, an event attended by several dignitaries, including Kisii Governor Simba Arati and his Nairobi counterpart Johnson Sakaja.
Following Raila's arrival at the stadium, sections of the crowd chanted 'Raila Must Go' while others staged a walkout as he began addressing the crowd.
