Raila Odinga Apologizes for Chaos at Azimio Meeting, Dismisses Allegations of Collaboration with Government
In a heartfelt apology, Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party leader Raila Odinga has expressed deep regret over the chaos that erupted during the coalition’s recent meeting in Nairobi. The incident, which saw rowdy youths disrupt a press conference, forced Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to prematurely end the briefing. Journalists, including KBC reporter Abdiaziz Hashim, were among those caught up in the melee.
In his statement, Odinga offered unreserved apologies to the journalists and leaders affected by the incident. He assured that the coalition would review the events and address the security lapses to prevent future occurrences. “Raila Odinga regrets the events of yesterday and takes this early opportunity to offer unreserved apologies to the journalists and fellow leaders who got caught up in the unfortunate incident,” Odinga stated. He further emphasized the coalition’s commitment to ensuring the safety and freedom of journalists and leaders at all Azimio functions.
The incident drew condemnation from media stakeholders, including the Political Journalists Association of Kenya (PJAK), who called for better security measures at political events.
Amidst the turbulence, Odinga also took the opportunity to dismiss allegations suggesting a collaboration with the government. He clarified that his support for the proposed multi-sectoral engagement with President William Ruto was aimed at addressing the country’s pressing issues and not a political alliance. “ODM never said that it was going into bed with Ruto… we never said it. It is a creation of the media,” Odinga explained. He reiterated his call for a National Convention to allow all Kenyans to express their views on the nation’s challenges.
The proposed multi-sectoral convention by President Ruto, which was scheduled to start on Monday, has faced delays. The forum was intended to gather 150 members from diverse sectors, including youth, religious institutions, civil society, professional organizations, and political parties, to discuss and find solutions to the country’s ongoing crisis
