Eldoret Chopper Attack was a Plot to Kill Me, Raila Tells Kenyans in the US

Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga says the April 1st attack on his chopper in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County was a plot to kill him.

Odinga was leaving the burial of businessman Jackson Kibor in Soy when the helicopter carrying him was attacked with stones by rowdy youth.

Speaking on Sunday during a town hall meeting with Kenyans living in the US in Washington, DC, Odinga said he was aware of the planned attack ahead of Kibor’s burial.

“Some goons were hired and they actually wanted to kill us… The attack was vicious, were it not for the actions of the police officers the damage could have been much more devastating,” said Odinga.

“It was something that was properly planned, the police managed to arrest 15 goons that evening with bundles of money that had been given and the weapons they were supposed to use.”

He noted that he received information about the attack that morning and even adjusted his schedule to avoid the goons.

“Unfortunately, we did not go home at the time they expected us to go, I had received information earlier in the morning that they had been hired to attack me at the funeral, so I decided to go when the service was over,” he added.

17 suspects were arrested in connection with the attack, but 15 were set free for lack of sufficient evidence. The other two are expected to face charges of attempted murder, incitement to violence, malicious damage to property, and disturbance of peace.

At the same time, Odinga hit out at the Deputy President William Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza alliance for attempting to divide Kenyans along social classes.

“Our adversaries have tried so many things, they came up with a very divisive ideology of the rich vs. the poor and it did not work,” said Odinga.