Raila cuts short US trip to attend Kibaki funeral
Raila Odinga has cut short his tour of the United States so as to attend former President Mwai Kibaki’s send-off.
A statement by Azimio la Umoja Presidential Campaign Secretariat explained the seasoned politician, who was expected back home at the weekend, will instead return on Wednesday.
Odinga left for the US on Friday after viewing Kibaki’s body at the Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi.
His schedule in the US included holding a series of meetings with senior government officials and members of the US Congress in Washington DC.
He was accompanied by a host of politicians including governors Ndiritu Muriithi (Laikipia), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), and James Ongwae (Kisii), Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, former Aldai MP Dr Sally Kosgey, Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, Kathiani MP Robert Mbui, Prof Mutua and former Kenya Ambassador to the US Elkanah Odembo among others.
Before cutting short his trip, Raila had a meeting with Alice Wairimu Nderitu, a Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide to the UN Secretary-General.
He also met Michael Ranneberger, the former US Ambassador to Nairobi and Kenyans based in the US.
Kenyans in the US play a substantial role in sending home remittances to an estimated tune of Sh30 billion a month.
Kibaki’s relationship with the Odinga family stretches back six decades since Jaramogi Odinga Odinga, Raila’s father, plucked him from Makerere University where he was a lecturer and tutored him to join politics.
Raila thereafter worked with Kibaki by supporting his 2002 election bid.
The two politicians then fell out but were forced to reunite after the 2007/2008 post-election violence with Raila serving as Kibaki’s Prime Minister for five years.
Kibaki’s State funeral will be held at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi county on Friday.
He shall be laid to rest at his Othaya Family home at a private ceremony on Saturday after public prayers that will be conducted on the same day at the Othaya Stadium.