Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader has apologised to Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition leaders and journalists after a group of goons attacked and cut short a presser by co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.
In a statement on Thursday, July 18, 2024, Odinga noted that he deeply regretted the events which happened shortly after he left the press conference, adding that some of the goons involved were known while others were unknown.
“Yesterday, at the tail end of long and fruitful deliberations on developments in the country and the position of the opposition parties, youths, some known, many unknown to the parties, invaded the venue and ejected participants,” Odinga said.
He added: “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 said that the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation venue had hosted major events in the past and that yesterday’s events were ‘ugly incidents.’
Musyoka’s speech was cut short after goons stormed the venue shouting: “People should go outside! Everybody out! The meeting is over! Media people, also leave, the meeting is over,” some of the goons shouted amid the commotion.
The leaders were whisked to safety as the goons roughed up journalists covering the event.
Raila left meeting
Leaders who were present at the time of the incident included former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament Peter Kaluma, Kitui Senator Enock Wambua and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi among others.
While the other Azimio coalition leaders were still at the event at the time of disruption, Odinga left and so had Hassan Joho and Junet Mohamed.
“Our Party leader Raila Amollo Odinga had to leave for an urgent meeting and he has asked us to make this statement,” Kalonzo said before the goons arrived to disrupt the event.
The disruption is seen to have been instigated by the opposition of a section of the Azimio leaders to the talks planned by President William Ruto with the view to form a broad-based government.
“That for the avoidance of doubt the Azimio-OKA coalition will not be part of the proposed broad-based or any other dialogue with the Kenya Kwanza coalition,” Kalonzo insisted.
ODM has endorsed the talks while Kalonzo and the other affiliate parties have called for the arrest of rogue police officers involved in the shooting and maiming of protesters and have called for the dismissal of Nairobi area police boss Adamson Bungei.
The leaders have also called for the unconditional release of all persons arrested during the protests.