Raila Junior Explains Viral Video of Him Addressing Crowd Through Fence in Kilgoris

Raila Odinga Junior has broken his silence after facing backlash over a viral video showing him greeting a crowd through a fence in Kilgoris.

In a statement on Tuesday, August 11, Raila Junior clarified that the video was taken at a public airstrip and not at President William Ruto’s private residence.

“I have seen the video and the comments circulating about me greeting wananchi through a fence. For clarity, this was not at the President’s private home. It took place at the public airstrip in Kilgoris,” read the statement in part. 

Raila Junior noted that he had alighted from an aircraft at the airstrip when a group of residents recognized him and waved at him. 

He mentioned that he responded to the Kilgoris residents’ greetings in the normal way people do.

Raila Junior also explained that the fence seen in the video is a standard safety barrier designed to protect the aircraft landing area.

“As I alighted from the aircraft, a group of wananchi who recognized me waved me over and asked to greet me. 

“The fence is a standard safety barrier that protects the landing area for aircraft. I responded to their greeting in the normal way one does with members of the public,” Raila Junior added. 

The clarification comes after the video went viral online, sparking heated debate across social media.

A section of social media users criticized Raila Junior, accusing him of looking down on ordinary citizens.

Raila Junior was among the guests at the traditional engagement ceremony for President Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, in Kilgoris on Saturday, August 8. 

He was in the company of his mother, Mama Ida Odinga, and sister, EALA MP Winnie Odinga. 

Senior government officials, including Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Cabinet Secretaries, also attended the high-level ceremony.