Organizers Says Politicians Paid and Incited People to Heckle Ida Odinga at Catholic Women's Prayer Day

The Catholic Diocese of Meru says a group of people was paid to heckle Ida Odinga at the Catholic Women Association's (CWA) prayer day in Meru County on Saturday.

Ida, who is the wife of ODM leader Raila Odinga, was shouted down by a section of the audience shortly after she began giving her speech.

"I’m a mother like you,” Ida said as the crowd booed her.

Attempts by the master of ceremony to restore calm were futile, and the jeers persisted forcing Ida to cut short her address and leave the ceremony to which she had been invited as a guest speaker.

CWA coordinator sister Gemmah Mbui told The Standard that politicians present at the event were behind the disgraceful incident.

"This was supposed to be a day of prayer. A politician had brought people with him to the event. It was decided that only Mrs. Odinga would address participants so as to clear of politics during the event," sister Gemmah said.

She noted that politicians incited the crowd after organizers of the event decided to deny them a chance to speak.

"I told Bishop that something has been planned. Then he told me nobody should speak except Ida. They were many and were moving in the crowd, making noise and incited some of the women," she said.

North Imenti MP Rahim Dawood and Meru Senator Mithika Linturi, who is eyeing the Meru governor’s seat in the forthcoming elections, were among the politicians who attended the event.