ODM Party leader Raila Odinga finally gave his opinion on the recent escalation surrounding the remarks made by Emurua Dikir MP Johana Ng’eno touching on President Uhuru Kenyatta and his family.
The embattled legislator was present as Raila addressed the delegates that had gathered in Bomet on Saturday, September 19.
He made a stop in the Rift Valley alongside his close confidant and Siaya Senator James Orengo.
“What Ng’eno forgot to tell you is that I paid for his university education, but I must have forgotten to teach him about manners,” Raila stated, resulting in laughter from the crowd.
“I talk to him a lot. If you have an issue with your fellow man, there is no need to bring his mother into it. I remember when we were in school, if anyone crossed that unwritten rule, it always ended in a full blown fight,” he added.
He further reiterated that his defence of Mama Ngina did not mean he did not believe in the freedom of speech, but rather that there needed to be a level of decorum when leaders were addressing each other.
Ng’eno came under fire during the event that was held at nominated MP Wilson Sossion’s home, to mark his daughter’s admission to the bar.
Raila maintained that it was wrong to drag the names of Uhuru’s parents for political mileage.
When it was his turn to speak, Ng’eno put up a brave face as he defended himself by saying that his statements were taken out of context.
“I was actually addressing President Kenyatta whom I voted for in the last election and I stand by what I said,” he asserted, before going on to dare his party KANU to strip him of his membership.
On September 2, police officers in Trans Mara East arrested the legislator, and he was charged with incitement.
Dramatic scenes were witnessed at his Mogondo home shortly before 4.30 p.m. on the day, as his constituents stormed his home and tried to guard him from the police.
At one point, the police officers had to shoot in the air to try and disperse the crowd.
In his address, Raila maintained that respect and decorum was vital for any leader and urged the MP to tone down on his utterances as they would eventually lead to a ‘fight’.
The ODM party leader when on to drum up support for the BBI before heading out to Kisumu.
