Raila was just joking - Former Advisor confirms

mary kulundu

January 27, 2018 1:35 PM

It was a big joke

National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga’s former Advisor Salim Lone has rubbished media reports that Mr. Odinga

In a statement, Mr. Lone stated that Odinga’s remarks made during the burial of ODM chairman for Kipkelion East, William Koech, were taken out of context.

The former Advisor highlighted that it was a pity that the media failed to get the humor in the Former Prime Minister’s tone.

According to Lone Odinga meant that it was impossible for the DP to clinch the Country’s top seat just like it was for Odinga to offer his support to Mr. Ruto.

“When pigs fly" is a popular English idiom which is used when one wants to point to something that will never happen.

“And that is what Mr. Raila Odinga was saying yesterday. He was using humor to highlight the impossibility of Mr. Ruto thinking he might be president in 2022. I can now confirm, having just talked to Mr. Odinga, that he was NOT telling his arch opponent that he could support him,” Lone said.

Lone added: “Mr. Odinga was joking. He was saying that the only way Mr. Ruto could win the presidency would be with his support – meaning something that, like a pig flying, that could never happen. The media missed the humor and reported it as a serious remark."

Mr. Odinga caused confusion after he said during the burial that the only way DP Ruto could win in 2022 was if he (Odinga) supported him.

"Does Ruto think he can be a president without Raila? I can help him get there if he wants," the former Prime Minister said.

His statement caused a hullaballoo with Jubilee leaders wondering if Odinga was now shifting camps and opting to support Ruto other than his co-principal and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

We thought Raila signed an agreement to support Kalonzo. Has he since realized that Ruto is a better candidate than Kalonzo?” DP’s spokesman David Mugonyi posed.

“Unsolicited support from Agwambo confirms Ruto is the candidate to watch and front-runner 2022,” National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale said.