Three weeks after promising the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Kisumu, ODM leader Raila Odinga on Saturday avoided the topic during his return to Nyanza.
Speaking in Gem, Siaya county, during a church service to mark the 60th anniversary of his father in law Nehemiah Oyoo, the former Prime Minister ensured that the issue does not pop up.
Instead, he called for unity, urging Kenyans to come together and avoid segmenting themselves on tribal lines for the sake of the nation.
"We need to unite our people in diversity and shun ethnic divisions. We have a responsibility to make our nation’s diversity real without prejudice," Raila was quoted by the Standard.
Raila had made the promise in Nyakatch, Kisumu county, where he noted that they were in the process of securing a Chinese loan for the purpose.
However, the claims would later be dismissed by the state, which said there was no loan of such kind in the first place.
Even as the government failed to secure the Chinese loan for SGR extension, it appears that area leaders are still hopeful that the promise will be finally realized with Uriri MP Mark Nyamita asking the state to allocate funds for the project.
“The Treasury must put a budget for the extension of the SGR to Kisumu, even without involving China. Other major projects across the country have been built using the taxpayer’s money,” said Nyamita.