Chopper Damaged as Raila is Attacked by Stone-Pelting Youth in Eldoret

Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga was on Friday attacked by a group of rowdy youth in Kabenes, Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.

Odinga, who was accompanied by other leaders allied to the Azimio coalition, was in the area to attend the burial of businessman Mzee Jackson Kibor.

As the leaders left Mzee Kibor’s home after the burial, they were attacked by a mob that pelted stones at their motorcade as well as helicopter.

"…youth attacked my plane, destroying the air shield with rocks that were clearly aimed at me. On my way to the plane, they had pelted my vehicles with stones," said Odinga in a statement.

"My mistake was to attend the burial of my long-time friend Mr. Jackson Kibor. I thank the security officers who did everything to ensure our safety."

Odinga, 77, said the attack was politically-instigated and blamed Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago and Soy MP Caleb Kositany, both allies of Deputy President William Ruto.
 
"The threat came in the form of youth; mobilized, armed and paid to cause mayhem and disorder, destroy property and even take away lives in a bid to create political zones in the country," Odinga stated.

Odinga pointed out that the attacks present a very dark reminder of what this country has witnessed before, particularly in the run up to the 1992 elections and in the 2007-2008 elections.

“In the run up to August, someone seems to be assembling a ragtag band of extremist youths, radicalized by lies and handouts to zone the country before pushing us into mayhem,” said Odinga.

He urged Mandago and Kositany, and other leaders from the region, to publicly condemn the incident and promise an end to the bizarre attempts to balkanize the country into ethnic and tribal party zones ahead of the August election.

Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, who was among the leaders accompanying Odinga, shared photos of the damaged chopper.

"Today we almost got killed in Soy constituency Uasin Gishu County at the Burial of Mzee Jackson Kibor’s burial. Our chopper was completely destroyed and we had to look for alternative means mid-air…," Junet posted on Facebook.

Ruto has since condemned the attack, saying every politician has the right to sell their agenda in every part of the country. 

“Political violence is retrogressive, divisive and tears down our democracy. We condemn and reject it without reservation,” said Ruto.