Senator James Orengo confirms Britain cancelled his & Raila Odinga's visa Swearing-In

Orengo confirms cancellation of His & Raila's Visa by British Gov't

Mumbi Mutuko

December 5, 2019 1:11 PM

Orengo spills insider details

Senator James Orengo and Opposition Leader Raila Odinga

Senator James Orengo has confirmed that the United Kingdom cancelled his and Raila Odinga's visa after the latter was sworn in on January 30.

The Siaya Senator, however, refuted claims that their visas cancellation forced Opposition Leader Raila Odinga into the handshake pact with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Reports by the Daily Nation indicated that the Siaya Senator did not buy into claims by ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi in his new book Soaring Above the Storms of Passion.

Senator James Orengo and Opposition leader Raila Odinga Senator James Orengo and Opposition leader Raila Odinga Pulse Live Kenya

In the book, Mr Mudavadi stated that Mr Odinga had been banned from visiting various countries.

Money woes

However, Senator Orengo argued that if that was the case the travel ban would have been executed before the January 30 swearing-in of Mr Odinga.

He admitted there was pressure even from inside Nasa especially from Mr Odinga's co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga with ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi Opposition leader Raila Odinga with ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi Pulse Live Kenya

“I was with Raila when Acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Donald Yamamoto called him... Raila told him that the US couldn’t impose a president on Kenya and he had no interest in travelling to the US," the Nation quoted Orengo.

Mudavadi also claimed that Raila agreed to work with President Kenyatta because of financial woes.