Party of National Unity (PLP) leader Martha Karua has voiced her disappointment over what she termed as the exclusion of prominent Opposition figures from actively participating in the burial ceremony of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Speaking on Spice FM, Karua noted that apart from Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka who was allowed to address mourners because of his status as a former Vice President no other Opposition leader was given a chance to speak during the burial at Opoda Farm in Bondo.
“Those of us known for our divergent opinions were not welcome,” Karua lamented. “They only called His Excellency Kalonzo Musyoka under the banner that he is a former Vice President.”
Karua emphasized that the late Raila was a national figure whose legacy transcended political affiliations, and therefore both government and Opposition leaders should have been given equal opportunity to mourn and pay tribute.
“The entire country mourned Raila. Yes, his party worked with him, but we also worked with him. I was his running mate in 2022, and we served together in Parliament for two decades,” she stated.
Karua, who served as Raila’s running mate in the 2022 presidential election, also highlighted her personal connection to the Odinga family, describing herself as a long-time friend who knew Raila before joining elective politics.
“You could have allowed others to speak it didn’t even have to be me. One or two from the Opposition brigade would have made sense. But as his running mate, it would have been fair to give me time,” she remarked.
She further questioned the tone of the burial speeches, asking whether the event was meant to honor Raila or to promote political alliances.
Raila Odinga, a towering figure in Kenyan politics for over four decades, was laid to rest in a private ceremony at his Opoda Farm following a state funeral service attended by local and international dignitaries.
