Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has finally cleared the air on his absence during opposition leader Raila Odinga’s mock presidential coronation earlier this year.
The controversial January 30 event that saw the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader sworn-in as the People’s President in Uhuru Park in Nairobi, was attended by thousands of opposition supporters and Raila's allies.
But speaking on Milele FM’s ‘Kivumbi’ early Wednesday, Khalwale termed the event as ‘childish’, saying that it was both unconstitutional and pointless, hence his decision to keep off.
He recalled inquiring about the oath that would be read and the protocol that would be followed, before making up his mind to watch it from afar, maintaining that it was not due to fear or cowardice.
‘’Hiyo kiapo haikuwa na mpangilio. Niliwauliza wapangaji wakaniambia watatumia kiapo kilicho katika katiba, ilhali Raila hakutangazwa Rais, nikawaambia hayo ni mambo ya kitoto (they told me he would take the constitutional oath and I immediately relegated it to nonsense as Raila was not announced the winner),’’ he said.
The former Kakamega gubernatorial hopeful and Ford-Kenya deputy party leader maintained that he has no apologies for his absence.
‘’I don’t have to apologise for my absence,’’ he added.
The event was also snubbed by Odinga’s colleagues in the ailing opposition’s National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition, after which they have given varying narratives on the reasons behind their absence.
The trio; Ford-Kenya boss Moses Wetangula, his Wiper counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka and Amani National Congress (ANC) chief Musalia Mudavadi would later be branded cowards and traitors.