Lengo Karissa, the man who made headlines in 2014 for whipping the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga with a walking stick, has come out to express regret over the incident.
In an interview on Friday, October 17, he said he has long wished to meet Raila and apologize in person, but all his efforts were unsuccessful.
Karissa is now appealing to Raila's family to forgive him, describing the late ODM leader as a patriotic figure who greatly contributed to Kenya’s democracy.
"I know he is now deceased, but I still ask for forgiveness. Raila was a great leader who should be emulated. Even to his family, they should not worry. They are also heroes," he said.
The 2014 incident occurred during a public event in Kwale County, where Raila and then-Governor Salim Mvurya were dancing.
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Karissa approached the duo and struck them with a walking stick before being quickly apprehended by security officers.
He was briefly detained and later arrested by police officers who transferred him to Kilifi County, where he was arraigned in court on charges of causing disturbance and bodily harm.
Karissa was released on a bond of Ksh2,500, but the case was later dropped after Raila personally forgave him.
Elsewhere, Captain Saviemaria Ondego, the pilot who commanded the Kenya Airways flight that brought Raila's body home from India, shared an emotional account of the historic journey, describing it as a 'surreal moment'.
Speaking about the experience, Captain Ondego revealed the emotional weight she carried as she prepared to address passengers aboard Flight KQ203, which switched its call sign to RAO001 upon entering Kenyan airspace as a tribute to the fallen leader.
"It really was a surreal moment. Every day is never a normal day at our job. And like any flight, we woke up to a roster," Captain Ondego stated. "There was, however, a heaviness and a responsibility to our country that made it not a normal flight," she added.
When the time came to make the traditional captain's, Captain Ondego was overwhelmed by emotion.
"To be honest, I went to speak and nothing came out. I had to come off the speaker, take a deep breath, and then try again," she recalled.
Despite the initial struggle, the experienced pilot found her voice and delivered what would become a memorable three-minute tribute to the former Prime Minister.
"My voice was a little shaky, but it was important to me, and somehow the words flowed," she said.
Captain Ondego's in-flight announcement honored Raila's legacy and offered condolences to his family and the nation.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Today, we acknowledge a significant loss felt across Kenya and Africa. On behalf of the Kenya Airways family, we extend our deepest condolences on the passing of the right honorable Raila Odinga, a visionary leader and a passionate Pan-Africanist.
“His influence transcends borders, inspiring many with his dedication to peace and determination to address our continent's challenges," she announced over the aircraft's public address system.
