Raila Odinga Junior has apologized for latest comments on Orange Democratic Movement’s top leadership echelons, saying it has been blown out of context.
Odinga Junior now says that his statement was not directed at any ODM leader and that he was not speaking on behalf of anyone.
He further noted that as a democratic party, ODM had created a good environment for ordinary members like him to fearlessly speak their minds regarding matters of the party.
Junior’s apology comes barely hours after he lashed out at his father’s party for losing direction and sparking a barrage of mixed reactions and criticism.
“Clarification as an ordinary ODM member my views are my own and not that of party. I’m grateful to ODM for allowing democratic space in which different views and opinions are expressed. My views were not targeting any leaders & I apologize for any misunderstanding caused.” Raila Odinga Junior said in an early Wednesday morning tweet.
CLARIFICATION as an ordinary ODM member my views are my own and not that of PARTY⁰2. I’m grateful to ODM for allowing democratic space in which different views and opinions are expressed
3 My views were not targeting any leaders & I apologize for any misunderstanding caused— Raila Odinga Junior (@Railajunior) September 16, 2020
Yesterday, Junior claimed in a twitter post said that the orange party had was losing focus and had taken a new low by playing petty politics and forgotten about its key mandate of service delivery, democratic space and protecting private citizen rights
According to Junior, the political outfit needed to do better than just “private jets and slay queens whilst abusing rival politicians”,
“We as ODM need to find our way back to basics, we are not just about private jets and slay queens whilst abusing rival politicians, we have a development agenda clearly outlined in our manifesto, let’s focus on service delivery, democratic space, protecting private citizen rights,” he said.
Political observers and pundits were quick to point out that his comments were directed at Minority Whip Junet Mohamed who is also the MP for Suna East and Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho.
We as ODM need to find our way back to basics, we’re not just about private jets & slay queens whilst abusing rival politicians, we have a development agenda clearly outlined in our manifesto, let’s focus on service delivery, democratic space, protecting private citizen rights,,
— Raila Odinga Junior (@Railajunior) September 15, 2020
On Sunday, Raila’s son lashed out at ODM leadership led by Junet Mohamed for the way the party had handled the alleged hate speech against President Uhuru Kenyatta by Kapseret Mp Oscar Sudi and Emurua Dikirr’s Johanna Ng’eno.
The son of the former PM in a tweet told Junet that ODM and Junet in particular had a prerogative to defend the Mp’s freedom of speech.
“Actually, Junet Mohamed as minority whip in the house and senior parliamentarian, I believe your position should be that even though you don’t necessarily agree with what Oscar Sudi said you will defend his right to say it. Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of our democracy!” Junior had tweeted on Sunday.
ODM Chairman John Mbadi during an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday night said Junior’s remarks are ‘his own opinion that he was entitled to’ adding that he was not speaking on behalf of the party.
“He has had many other contrary opinions before. He holds no position in the party apart from being a member. He is entitled to his opinion,” Mbadi said.
