Raila Odinga, the leader of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party, has addressed the concerns surrounding his absence from the ongoing anti-government protests. He revealed that he is currently recovering from a flu, which had led to his inability to participate in the demonstrations.
Despite not disclosing his exact location, Odinga assured everyone that he is receiving proper medical attention, and his health is improving. He emphasized that his illness was the reason behind his temporary withdrawal from the three-day protests that began on Wednesday.
Dismissing rumors of coalition leaders hiding, Odinga asserted that his team is actively involved and leading the protests from various regions of the country. He clarified that the demonstrations are not solely about him, Martha Karua, or Kalonzo Musyoka; they are a collective effort for all Kenyans.
Regarding the absence of his co-principals in leading the demos, Odinga stated that their presence wasn’t mandatory as the protests were a nationwide endeavor. He reiterated that the entire Azimio team was united and actively participating in the demonstrations, even if they were not all visibly present on the streets.
In response to President William Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza team, Odinga criticized their biased remarks and continuous calls for peace, while vowing to persist with the protests. He mentioned that the President had not personally contacted him to discuss the way forward, and contrary to claims made by Kenya Kwanza leaders, he had not sought a ‘handshake’ with them.
Dismissing the accusations of seeking compromises, Odinga firmly expressed that they did not desire any expired “half loaf” from their opponents. He referred to Ruto as insincere and inconsistent, often changing his stance from one day to another.
During Odinga’s absence from the limelight, the hashtag #WhereIsRaila gained traction on social media, with Kenyans expressing their curiosity and calling for him to reappear. However, with his explanation of recovering from illness, he seeks to put the questions to rest and continue his involvement in the ongoing protests.
