ODM Leader Raila Odinga has addressed an incident where it had been reported that he greeted other leaders and snubbed Wiper-Kenya leader Kalonzo Musyoka during their meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House Mombasa.
Speaking to journalists at his Karen residence on Friday, August 27, 2021, the former premier clarified the incident, alleging that the media had misreported the issue.
Odinga stated that there is no difference between him and Kalonzo, noting that they had been together at the meeting for hours and there was no reason for him to snub the former vice president.
"I did not snub Kalonzo, he was staying behind to speak to President Uhuru. I greeted Mudavadi and Wetangula, because they were staying back in Mombasa. Kalonzo and I were returning together to Nairobi. He was just talking to Uhuru, and then we leave together.
"People started saying I left Kalonzo because we have an issue, I have no problem with Kalonzo. We were at the meeting together. The media got it completely wrong," Raila explained.
Following the incident that occurred on August 10, members of the public and the media alike speculated a rift between the two leaders.
Odinga further clarified that in their meetings with President Kenyatta, the Head of State had not told any of them to step back and support one of them for the presidency.
The ODM leader claimed that reports President Kenyatta asked the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) leaders to back his bid were completely false and blown out of proportion by the media.
He noted that only matters of national interest were discussed during the gatherings and all information communicated by the office of the president.
"People are now saying, that Uhuru told them to support me, and they refused. Who was there? The media was not in the meeting. The media has become very irresponsible and are reporting false information.
"There is nowhere I have told them to support me, and neither has President Kenyatta," Odinga stated.
