Organisers of the celebrations to honour the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga have warned “goons” against attending the planned events, saying the occasion is meant for Kenyans to come together peacefully.
Committee chairperson Prof Adams Oloo said Raila’s celebrations would be national, with people from different religious, political and regional backgrounds invited to participate.
Oloo said Raila’s widow, Ida Odinga, had made it clear that while all people were welcome, “goons” would not be invited to the celebrations.
“This celebration shall be about the people. She (Mama Ida) told me that all the people are invited, but goons are also people. She told me three times that they are not invited, although they are people,” Oloo said.
He said the celebrations should have no religious or regional boundaries and should reflect what Raila stood for.
“This celebration has to be national; it knows no religion, it has no boundary. It has to reflect what Baba was,” he said.
Oloo spoke during the unveiling of the committee organising the celebrations by Ida Odinga.
The committee brings together representatives from government, political institutions, civil society, academia, the private sector and the Odinga family.
