[ODM leader Raila Odinga in a past interview. He skipped the day’s politics at Nkaissery’s funeral. Photo/Standard.co.ke]
ODM leader Raila Odinga for the first time in as many months clearly avoided discussing political issues during the Saturday’s burial of Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery.
For the second time in Maasai Land, Odinga shared platform with his rival President Uhuru Kenyatta with the nation keen to hear from the two political protagonists.
Unlike during William Ole Ntimama’s send off where politics dominated, Odinga only paid tribute to his former ally who’d just joined government from his ODM party.
“General Nkaissery was one of my best friends. It is not only a big blow to Kenya but also to me as a person. In will not talk politics because we are mourning,” he said,
Odinga added: “When he told me that he wanted to serve the country in another capacity, I released him without complaints.”
In yet another coincidence, President Kenyatta also avoided engaging in politics but urged Kenyans to embrace peace during this electioneering period.
Nkassery, 67, died a week ago over what doctors suspected to be a fatal heart attack, and was later confirmed by autopsy done by experts.