General

Where is Baba? Raila Odinga’s daughter Winnie responds to KOT

ODM leader Raila Odinga having a word with his daughter Winnie Odinga during funeral service for the late former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo at Citam Valley road on June 24, 2021. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Winnie Odinga, daughter of Azimio Leader Raila Odinga, has reassured the public that her father is safe and in good health after being noticeably absent on July 19 demonstrations.

Raila Odinga had earlier affirmed that the countrywide protests would persist, vowing that Kenyans would not back down in the pursuit of their rights.

Also read: Maandamano Live Blog: Day 2

In a show of support and to dispel rumors about her father’s well-being, Winnie Odinga posted a screenshot photo on her social media account, capturing a call from Raila with his portrait as her screensaver.

Alongside the photo, she wrote: “Sasa, hii story ya Baba imetoka wapi? Baba ako sawa. Tena aliniboo na story ya gym 30 minutes ago,” which translates to, (Now where is this Baba story coming from? Baba is fine. He just bored me with him long gym story 30 minutes ago.)

The absence of Raila from the initial demonstrations on Wednesday had led to speculation and concerns among supporters, but Winnie’s assurance has put those fears to rest.

Raila, in a video shared on his official Twitter account on Thursday morning, documented alleged incidents of police brutality that occurred during Wednesday’s countrywide protests.

Also read: Five things to know about Winnie Odinga as she formally joins politics

Despite facing challenges and adversity, the opposition leader remained steadfast in his resolve to continue the peaceful demonstrations.

“The voice of the people must be heard. Our peaceful protests continue,” Raila captioned the video, reaffirming the determination of Kenyans to push for their rights and demand accountability from the government.

In an exclusive interview with Nation, Raila Odinga spoke from an undisclosed location, expressing gratitude to Kenyans for their unwavering support during the protests.

He also made it clear that the demonstrations will proceed as planned.

“We will continue with our peaceful demonstrations as planned,” Raila stated.

“But we will stop at 5 pm today (Wednesday) and resume tomorrow (Thursday) morning. We will continue to agitate for our rights; as Kenyans, we won’t give up.”

The primary objective of the three-day countrywide protests is to pressure President William Ruto’s administration to address the issue of the high cost of living, especially in light of the tax hikes contained in the suspended Finance Act of 2023.

Also read: What Winnie Odinga really thinks about Kenyan socialites