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Raila visits Moi at Kabarak to condole with bereaved retired president’s family


A week after the burial of Jonathan Toroitich, Opposition leader Raila Odinga on Sunday visited former President Daniel arap Moi’s Kabarak home to condole with his family.

The late Jonathan, who died at 64 and was Mzee Moi’s eldest son, succumbed to cancer while undergoing treatment at a Nakuru hospital and was buried on April 27 at his Kabimoi home in Eldama Ravine.

Mr Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta missed the burial as they were on an official trip to China for the second Belt and Road Initiative forum.

During the burial , Siaya Senator James Orengo passed Mr Odinga’s condolences to the Moi family whereas those of President Kenyatta were presented through his deputy William Ruto and his elder brother Muhoho Kenyatta.

However, on Sunday, the former Prime Minister, who was accompanied by his brother Dr Oburu Oginga, visited Kabarak where they were welcomed by Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, Tiaty Member of Parliament William Kamket and Elgeyo Marakwet governor Alex Tolgos.

POLITICAL PARTNERSHIP

The visit was a show of continued closeness between the Odingas and the Mois with speculations rife that the former premier could forge a political partnership with Mr Kenyatta for the 2022 presidential elections.

Although Mr Odinga has not publicly announced he will vie for the top seat, his handlers maintain he will be on the race. Gideon, the patriarch’s youngest son, has also announced he will contest the presidency.

Mzee Moi’s press secretary Lee Njiru told the Nation that Mr Odinga visited to convey his condolences after he missed Jonathan’s funeral.

“Mr Odinga’s visit to Kabarak was a show of solidarity with the former President’s family. He met Mzee and wished him and the family strength,” said Mr Njiru.

Mr Odinga later posted, on his twitter handle, an update on the visit: “I visited retired President Daniel arap Moi at his Kabarak home to condole with him following the recent passing of his son Jonathan. We continue to wish strength to the former President and his family. May God grant them peace during this trying time.”

POLITICAL LUMINARIES

The former premier also shared photos of him accompanied by Dr Oginga and Senator Moi, as he greeted Mzee Moi.

Mr Odinga joins a list of political luminaries who have visited Kabarak in the past two weeks to condole with the family and were allowed to meet the elder Moi.

Besides President Kenyatta, who was the first to visit Mzee Moi, other leaders including former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka, former presidential candidate Peter Kenneth, chief executive officer of the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) Dr Ezekiel Mutua, Kitui senator Enoch Wambua and Central Organization of Trade Unions (Cotu) boss Francis Atwoli and a host of other political bigwigs were also allowed to see the elder Moi last week before the burial of Jonathan.

While the family of Mzee Moi said it would not be receiving visitors at his home after the death of Jonathan President Kenyatta and the other leaders met and condoled with the former Head of State.