Raila Odinga at a past rally. He has hit out at the government and international society. [Photo/Courtesy]
NASA leader Raila Odinga on Thursday morning joined friends and family of Kenyans who lost their lives on Friday that he landed from the USA.
He has further criticized the Kenyatta-led government for using excessive force in dealing with demonstrators, leading to the loss of innocent lives.
Speaking at the City Mortuary where the families of the deceased went to pick bodies of their loved ones for burial, Odinga lashed at the government, which he said should be protecting the lives of its own citizens.
Among the bodies is that of 7-year-old Geoffrey Mutinda, who was killed in Pipeline estate as the swearing in of President Kenyatta continued in Kasarani.
“Those who lay in those coffins, on behalf of the NASA leaders who are here, we give our sincere condolences. We are saddened by the deaths of many Kenyans, young Kenyans who have lost their lives,” he said.
“We are sad to hear Nairobi Commandant saying the seven-year-old was killed by a NASA supporter, there is nothing like that, a criminal is criminal and should be apprehended,” he added.
He took a swipe at the government for ‘killing’ their supporters and said they will continue to push for change and reforms.
“The government needs to apologize to the families of the 215 people who have been killed since the aftermath of the August polls,”
Odinga further attacked the international community, accusing them of ignoring the many deaths in the country after the August polls.
“We do not have friends, we are by ourselves. Only Kenyans can liberate the country, not the international community,”
“We do not recognize the elections of October 26, we do not recognize of the swearing as well. We will not be intimidated; our friends can give us advice, but don’t shout at us,”
Odinga has maintained that he will be sworn in on 12th December, and ascend to power.