Raila: Uhuru Kenyatta is Not Funding Anti-government Protests

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has dismissed claims that former president Uhuru Kenyatta is funding the ongoing opposition’s protests against the government.

In an interview with BBC, Odinga termed the allegations made by a section of Kenya Kwanza leaders as unfounded, insisting that Kenyatta does not engage in Azimio’s “domestic issues” even though he is a member of the coalition.

“There have been unfounded allegations that Honourable Uhuru Kenyatta is funding the current protests. Nothing could be further from the truth,” Odinga said.

“Yes, Uhuru Kenyatta is a member of this movement, he is still the chairman of this movement, but he’s restrained himself and has had no time to engage in domestic issues at all, neither has he commented or talked about what is going on in the country,” he added.

He condemned Monday’s raid of his East Africa Spectre Limited gas plant in Nairobi and the invasion of an expansive land in Ruiru owned by Kenyatta’s family by hired goons.

Odinga described the raids as a well-orchestrated move by the government to dismember the opposition. 

“They had planned, this cannot be an accident. They have been talking about it and have gone public saying they are going to invade Uhuru’s farm,” Odinga said.

Last week, National Assembly Majority Leader and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah had publicly warned that Kenyatta’s land could be invaded by locals if he continued financing Azimio protests.

“I want to ask our former president to respect other people’s property. If you cannot do that, we have so many questions to ask you starting with the land you occupy in Ruiru, Taita Taveta, and Nakuru. If you attack people’s property, we will also attack your land and ensure those that do not also get a share,” he said in Kirinyaga.

Ichung’wah has since distanced himself from the invasion.

“I addressed him because he is the Azimio financier and I cautioned him that he is losing hold of the people when he was President and last week. I am ready to account for my time with regards to the allegations,” he told the media on Tuesday.

Odinga accused Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of masterminding the attacks.