Raila To Be Out Of Kenya On Jamhuri Day

Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga will leave the country on Saturday, December 10.

In a statement on Friday, December 9, Raila's communications director, Dennis Onyango, revealed that he will leave Kenya for a one-week visit to the United States (US), where he will arrive on Jamhuri Day (Monday, December 12).

He is expected to meet other African leaders for a summit that will begin the following day until Thursday, December 15.

"Hon. Raila Odinga is set to leave the country late Saturday, December 10, 2022, for a one-week visit to the US where he will join other leaders from across the African continent for the US- Africa in Washington, DC.

Raila Odinga on board a plane. /FILE

"Mr Odinga is expected to arrive in Washington on Monday, December 12, 2022, for the Summit that runs from December 13-15. He will be attending the meeting in his capacity as the African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development. In that capacity, he will lead discussions on the promotion of investment in infrastructure and the attainment of Just Energy Transition," read the statement in part.

Raila is also lined up for a series of meetings with leaders from the public and private sectors and civil society organizations on the sidelines of the Summit.

He will be back in the country by December 18, 2022, to proceed with planned public programs.

Raila had previously cancelled the parallel Jamhuri Day celebrations that were to be held at Jacaranda Gardens in Embakasi, Nairobi.

"We wish to announce that the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party will now not hold a parallel Jamhuri Day celebration on December 12, 2022, as earlier planned. The cancellation of this meeting has been occasioned by upcoming engagements that will keep the party's top leaders away in the run-up to Jamhuri Day and a few days after. 

"Those engagements were awaiting confirmation at the time the announcement of the parallel celebrations were made. Since the confirmation has now been made, we have therefore to clarify that our planned Jamhuri Day celebrations at the Jacaranda grounds have been cancelled," said Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi.

Wandayi however noted that the Azimio coalition would continue with its public consultations in a bid to keep the President William Ruto-led government in check.

While announcing the parallel Jamhuri Day event, Raila described President William Ruto's suspension of the former IEBC vice chairperson, Juliana Cherera, and three other former commissioners other than Irene Masit as a plot to rig the 2027 general elections.

President Ruto gazetted a tribunal that will be chaired by Justice Aggrey Mucheule. Carolyne Kamende Daudi, Linda Gakii Kiome, Mathew Njaramba Nyabena, and retired Colonel Saeed Khamis Saced were also appointed to the tribunal.

The four were accused of gross violation of the Constitution and a breach of their oath of office, which makes their status illegal to hold office. They were prominent for denying the presidential election results on Monday, August 15 as announced by IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati.