Why I Did Not Attend Raila's First Anniversary – Junet

Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed has explained why he skipped the first anniversary commemoration of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Bondo, Siaya County.

Speaking on Friday, October 16, in West Pokot, Junet said he decided to skip the event after noticing that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was among the leaders invited.

The ODM lawmaker said he cannot share the same space with the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader. 

“Yesterday, we as ODM members mourned Baba on the first anniversary of his death. I did not attend because when I looked at the list of those invited, I saw the name of Rigathi Gachagua. 

“I said to myself I cannot sit in the same place with someone like him, and Baba’s spirit could not be in such a place,” Junet said.

At the same time, Junet took a swipe at former President Uhuru Kenyatta for not attending Raila’s memorial in Bondo. 

“The sponsor abandoned us yesterday, just as he abandoned Baba during the election. He disappeared in 2022, and yesterday he disappeared again. Is such a person really trustworthy?” Junet posed.

This comes after Gachagua revealed he was invited by Mama Ida Odinga to attend Raila’s first anniversary. 

In a statement, Gachagua thanked Mama Ida for inviting him to the commemoration, describing the late opposition leader as the father of democracy and a defender of Kenyans’ rights.

The DCP leader explained he was not able to attend the memorial as he was away in the United States on a programme that had been scheduled earlier.

“Thank you Mama Ida Odinga for your invitation to me to attend the first anniversary of the Late Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, the father of our democracy and defender of the rights of Kenyans. 

“I was not able to attend since I am away in the United States of America on a programme that was pre-planned,” said Gachagua. 

The former DP added that he celebrates the former Prime Minister the same way he did at his inauguration as Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission chairmanship. 

Gachagua emphasized that his praise for the late Raila and Mama Ida was genuine.

“Those words about Raila and Mama Ida came from my heart, and I meant each and every word that I said on the day. I am a firm believer in giving a man his flowers when he is alive and hearing,” he stated.