NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 21 – Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga has shed light on the absence of former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at the funeral of the late Chief of Defence Forces, General Francis Omondi Ogolla.
Speaking at Obama K’Ogello Primary School during the burial on Sunday, Senator Oburu extended condolences on behalf of former President Kenyatta, who, he said, was abroad and was unable to attend in person.
“I bring condolences from former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is currently out of the country. He has asked me to convey his condolences to the family,” he said.
Senator Oburu, representing the family of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, revealed that General Ogolla was a maternal uncle, making his passing a personal loss for the family.
He further explained that Raila Odinga was unable to attend due to health reasons and had appointed him to represent the family.
“I also bring condolences from my brother Jakom Raila Odinga, who couldn’t make it due to health issues. He requested me to represent him and the family,” Senator Oburu added.
Raila attended a memorial service at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Saturday, where he conveyed his message of condolence.
The absence of these two leaders was noted, given General Ogolla’s close professional association with them during his tenure as the Vice Chief of Defence Forces under President Kenyatta’s administration.
General Ogolla, who tragically passed away in a plane crash in West Pokot on Thursday, was honoured with a solemn burial ceremony on Sunday.
Leaders from Nyanza, led by Siaya Governor James Orengo and Senator Oburu Odinga have called for thorough investigations into the cause of the helicopter crash so as to end any speculations.
“As a community here (Luo Nyanza), we have suffered tragedies where some of our sons have been assassinated. We had the likes of Tom Mboya, Robert Ouko and others and that is why we are asking for thorough investigations,” he said moments after General Ogolla’s son Joel said the family was satisfied that it was an accident.
“To Ogolla’s son, please be patient, let us wait for investigations,” Oburu said.
And when the president stood to speak, he acknowledged that the dark past of Kenya where several people and leaders have been killed through extrajudicial killings or executions, but vowed “that will never happen under my watch.”
“I made a commitment because it is true we have lost many Kenyans to extrajudicial Killings and executions in the past,” he said, “and without any fear of contradictions, I want to state here that there will never be extrajudicial killings or executions under my watch. We will never have bodies of people in River Yala.”
He was referring to bodies of people recovered from River Yala in the previous regime, who were suspected to have been executed by police, as documented by the human rights organisations.
Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka urged the government to make public the outcome of investigations so as to put the matter to rest.
“Generals don’t die. They fade away. But here we have a General who crashed in a helicopter. We urge the government to make public the report of the investigations,” Kalonzo said.
Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua too said “it is important that the investigations are made public.”
Siaya Governor James Orengo said the government must assure Kenyans that an open investigation will be conducted.
“I want to state without fear of contradiction that as the Luo nation we have mourned a lot of great heroes. There was Tom Mboya, Robert Ouko and others and today we are mourning General Ogolla,” he said, “so all we are asking is the truth to come out.”
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