Miguna caught lying about Raila on Twitter, refuses to apologise
Deported lawyer Miguna Miguna was on Thursday caught up in a classic Twitter faux pas moment when he mixed up details of ODM leader Raila Odinga’s political career.
In a fiery tweet, Miguna claimed that Mr Odinga first contested for the presidency in the 1992 general election.
The message was aimed at explaining how Mr Odinga has overstayed in national politics.
When @RailaOdinga vied for the presidency for the first time in 1992, Mr. @EmmanuelMacron, the President of France, was only 15 years' old. One ROOT CAUSE for Africa's stagnation, decay and backwardness is the refusal of its despots to give way for fresh visionary leadership.
— Dr. Miguna Miguna (@MigunaMiguna) March 13, 2019
But the tweet got the history wrong. Mr Odinga never contested for the presidency in 1992, his dad the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga did on a Ford Kenya ticket.
Raila Odinga’s first stab at the presidency was in 1997 on a National Development Party ticket.
The anomaly attracted varied corrections, and reactions.
Omwami @RailaOdinga never ran for Presidency in 1992. He only vied for the Lang’ata parliamentary seat which he easily won by beating the incumbent and then cabinet Minister Philip Leakey. Facts are very stubborn though
— Philip Etale (@EtalePhilip) March 13, 2019
It was Jaramogi Oginga Odinga who ran in 1992. Perhaps you’ve been away too long @MigunaMiguna?
— Joseph Karogo (@KarogoJ) March 13, 2019
Miguna is pinned to the ground today…rare scenes
— Ogbuefi Ezeudu (@ChengoKE) March 13, 2019
Ii totally agree wuod Kano
— James Otieno Adede (@AdedeJames2013) March 13, 2019
Your obsession with Raila odinga is irritating, the guy never vied for presidency in 1992.
— Evans Omondi Akello (@EvansOmondiAke1) March 13, 2019
Miguna thereafter realised his mistake but an apology wasn’t forthcoming.
I know, chief. That was not the SUBSTANCE of my statement – and you know it. The 5-year window changes nothing regarding the point I have made.
— Dr. Miguna Miguna (@MigunaMiguna) March 13, 2019
That is a minor thing that does not change the SUNSTANCE of my point. In 1997, @EmmanuelMacron was only 20 – if that makes you happy, ndugu.
— Dr. Miguna Miguna (@MigunaMiguna) March 13, 2019
That’s what the English call “splitting hairs.” It makes no difference – SUBSTANTIVELY.
— Dr. Miguna Miguna (@MigunaMiguna) March 13, 2019