Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has revealed why former Baringo Senator Gideon Moi did not attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Bondo.
Speaking during the event on Sunday, October 19, Kindiki acknowledged Moi’s absence and conveyed his message of sympathy to the Odinga family.
The DP explained that the KANU chairman, who had earlier joined senior government officials at the airport to receive Raila's remains, was unable to make it to Bondo due to unavoidable circumstances.
"I acknowledge the condolences of Senator Gideon Moi. He has not been able to come here; he was at the airport with us when we were receiving the remains of our leader. Today, he has some inconvenience. He could not make it," he said.
Elsewhere, Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna hogged the attention at Raila's burial when he appreciated the former Prime Minister for mentoring him to being the political personality he is today.
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He paid a heartfelt tribute to Raila, thanking him for mentoring him into the political personality he is today.
"I am Baba's son. I have been extremely privileged to have met Baba, learned under him, and finally served him as his Secretary General for the last eight years. I will eternally be grateful for the opportunity you gave me.
"I have never had the chance to ask why you picked me. We have attended many funerals together, and I used to believe Baba would be present at mine. I often asked myself what I would say on that dreadful day when we would bury our Baba. Today, words fail me," he said.
At the same time, Sifuna insisted that the ODM party would not play second fiddle to any other outfit in the 2027 vote.
He seemed to differ with the members of the ODM party who pronounced that the party would work with President William Ruto and eventually support his re-election.
Sifuna explained that the position Raila pronounced in September before his death would the position of the party as regards in the next general election.
"Baba Raila Odiga spoke openly to the country on September 22 to the ODM MPs. I asked leaders not to come up with non-existent statements. Baba said that ODM must prepare for the 2027 General Election. To those spreading non-existent pronouncements, Baba wondered where you got all that from," he added.
On her part, Raila's sister, Kisumu Woman Rep Ruth Odinga, warned dissenters within the ODM Party, noting that her elder brother left the party with the direction to take long before his death.
She noted it was Raila's wish that the party remains one and strong to forge alliances with other like-minded outfits.
"He told me the day before he passed on that ODM must be united and it must be strong. We cannot be having groups within the party.
"We can't have another group who thinks it owns the party, and another one wanting to take over Some of you want to take the party you don't know where it started. The party belongs to all of us," she said.
