Raila Claims Promise Governor Offered Ruto Before Turkana Festival Chaos

Azimio la Umoja leader and former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, has claimed that President William Ruto orchestrated the chaos that forced him to flee from the Turkana Festival in Lodwar, Turkana, on Friday, October 13.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Raila condemned the chaos claiming that Ruto had orchestrated the plot after touring the region and launching the Turkana Festival.

He addressed constituents outside the venue, highlighting his next course of action, after calm was restored.

He also alleged that Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai had colluded with Ruto to bar him from the event, terming the purported act as the "height of political intolerance and hypocrisy".

“The governor was finding that he was not aware. Of course, he was very aware, and I know that he gave assurances to Mr Ruto that he would not allow us to speak here today," he claimed.

Lomorukai dumped the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) led by Raila to work with and campaign for President Ruto in favour of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) which is the main party of the Kenya Kwanza coalition.

Nonetheless, Raila promised Turkana residents that he would return for a mega rally, refuting the opposition and threats that he had faced, to interact with the residents and hear from them on the way forward.

“We have big plans as Azimio for this region, which we should start implementing,” Raila commented.

He also affirmed that he did not need permission to visit Turkana to push for mega-developments for the region, which he termed as the 'cradle of mankind'.

“It is the height of political hypocrisy to refuse me even to greet the people,” he claimed but did not divulge how he would ensure the region is developed owing to being an outsider in government. 

Raila was the chief guest at the event attended 24 hours earlier by President Ruto when he was confronted by the county lawmakers much to the dismay of the attendees. Ironically, the MCAs are politicians of the Jubilee Party, which is under the Azimio coalition, led by Raila.

A commotion ensued which forced his security aide to evacuate him to a safer area outside the venue, where he addressed the constituents. 

Raila was earlier expected to deliver keynote addresses on devolution and its benefits as well as why it should be boosted for more development in the devolved units.