Raila Apologizes over ‘Madoadoa’ Remarks, Says He was Taken Out of Context
ODM leader Raila Odinga has defended himself over the controversial ‘madoadoa’ remarks he made during a rally in Wajir on Wednesday.
Speaking on Friday during his tour of Kisumu County to drum up support for his presidential bid, Odinga refuted claims that his utterances were intended to stir up ethnic hatred, saying he was taken out of context.
Odinga, who is eyeing the presidency under the Azimio La Umoja movement, also apologized to those who were offended by the use of the word ‘madoadoa.’
“I was in Wajir and all the candidates present were from different outfits forming Azimio la Umoja. They said Wajir is an Azimio zone and when I rose to speak, I reaffirmed that indeed Wajir is Azimio zone and there were no madoadoa,” said Raila.
“If there is anyone who did not get me right or has seen any mistake, I want to tell them that I am so sorry. In Azimio, we do not discriminate against any Kenyan because of their tribe.”
Odinga spoke hours after he was summoned by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to shed light on the remarks.
NCIC Chairman Samuel Kobia in a statement said the term “madoadoa” is considered hate speech in the country.
“In his remarks, he mentioned the term ‘Madoadoa’ which is considered a hate speech term in Kenya,” says Kobia.
Comments (4)
Baba was taken out of content in what he meant to say. It’s only William Ruto who privately and publicly have referred to Kenyans as madoadoa.
He Ruto asked the kalenjins to drive Kikuyus out of Eldoret and other places. Ruto also said 5000 acres near Eldoret were taken by people from Kiambaa in Kiambu County.
It’s good for RAO to remind Kenyans what Ruto thinks about them, and also his position about other tribes who live in the Rift Valley.
So let not Senator Murkomen make hay here because he was there in 2007 when DP Ruto burned Kikuyu women and their children locked inside the Kiambaa Church and he did not do anything to save them.
Gatheca is/was another name for expired Ngati/Gakunia/chief Muhuhu,jambazi Ngina’s father.
You know so well that Ruto never killed anyone but just want to propagate this to cover your popular vote in my Kenya. Kikuyus are not that stupid or gullible to take such nonsensical set of baits. They are voting Ruto 95%. Hawapangwingwi!
Madoadoa is a swahili word for patterns. It becomes controversial when used in context of the campaign in Eldoret in 2007, when the meaning it was assigned was that kikuyus should leave rift valley because they belonged to a different pattern (sic). Now if somebody can help me differentiate between Lintuka's Mithuri madoadoa and RAO's madoadoa, that would be useful.