Opposition leader Raila Odinga has come out guns blazing about the dynasty tag hanging over his head, as a section of Kenyans attribute his success to his family background.
Odinga is the second-born son to the nation’s first Vice-President and opposition leader Jaramogi Oginga Odinga who equally played a big role in the push for independence.
Speaking during the memorial service of former Maendeleo Ya Wanawake organization Chairperson Jane Kiano in Karen, Nairobi on Friday, the former premier maintained that he is self-made.
The veteran politician made it clear that his political achievements cannot in any way be attributed to his family or anyone else but his own struggle, adding that the same is the case to all other notable leaders.
”You cannot now say Uhuru is a part of a dynasty, Jomo Kenyatta was just a pauper before he fought to be where he got; I am not part of any dynasty either. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was just a pauper; you could say he was a hustler,’’ Raila is quoted by Citizen Digital.
”Raila is Raila the way he is and Uhuru is who he is because of himself, so you can’t divorce us on claims we come from dynasties,” he is further quoted.
Raila is a four-time presidential candidate, with all the bids, however, proved futile.
Mrs Kiano succumbed to lung cancer at the Nairobi Hospital on October 25 and has left behind two daughters, Joy and Wanja.
She was the widow of former Cabinet Minister Julius Gikonyo.