Raila Odinga
Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga has canceled his public consultation rally that was scheduled to take place on Monday, December 12 during the Jamhuri day celebrations.
In a statement read by National Assembly minority leader Opiyo Wandayi on Thursday, December 8, the former Prime Minister will be held up with other engagements on the days prior to and after the Jamhuri Day fete.
“We reaffirm that even with the cancellation of the parallel celebrations, the People’s Dialogue shall continue in one way or another, in public or private in the coming days, weeks and months in different parts of the country,” Wandayi stated.
Raila has been invited by the African Union to participate in the first-ever United States-Africa Leaders Summit, which will take place in Washington DC between December 13 and 15.
According to a source familiar with the situation, Raila will leave the country on December 11 and will return after the conclusion of the high-level event hosted by US President Joe Biden.
The summit is intended to demonstrate the United States’ continued commitment to Africa while also emphasizing the importance of US-Africa relations and increased cooperation on shared global priorities such as health and security.
“The party leader received an invitation on Wednesday night to attend the summit as an AU member as a special envoy for infrastructure, so he has to attend,” a source who chose to remain anonymous told the Nation.
The former Prime Minister had earlier intended to hold the parallel Jamhuri Day celebrations on Monday next week noting that it would be held in the form of a peaceful rally with ‘Kenyan patriots’.
“On the 12th of December, we are going to Jacaranda Gardens in Embakasi, not Kamukunji. We will be celebrating Jamhuri Day with Kenyan patriots and it is also going to be a very peaceful congregation. No protests, no picketing, although that is also guaranteed by the constitution of Kenya,” he said on December 7.
