ODM condemns Raila’s humiliation at JKIA

By Roselyne Obala and Geoffrey Mosoku

NAIROBI, KENYA: ODM leaders have condemned humiliation of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and demanded an apology from Government.

The MPs led by South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya expressed dismay at the way their party leader was treated by junior officers at the airport.

They said that was the second time the former PM was subjected to such humiliation citing a similar incident where he was barred from the VIP lounge in Mombasa for an hour alongside Governor Hassan Joho.

Nyamweya said if the trend is allowed to continue, other former leaders such as Mwai Kibaki will be subjected to such treatment.

“Junior officers acted on the strength of a circular issued by Secretary to Cabinet Francis Kimemia,” said Nyamweya saying the Government should apologies and desist from embarrassing the former PM.

Nominated senator Janet Ong’era told the Jubilee government to accord respect to Odinga and his family.

Ong’era said it was unfortunate that some officials in government still cling to the past behaviors in trying to demean the former PM following Monday’s incident where Raila was barred from accessing the VIP lounge at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

“It’s absurd that some mandarins operating from the office of the president want to subject Right Honourable Raila Odinga to humiliation,” she said.

In a statement, the senator who is the immediate former ODM executive director said Raila should be accorded all the respect as a leader of the most popular party in the country and his contribution to the political development in Kenya.