ODM leader Raila Odinga arrives for the Madaraka Day celebrations in Nyeri on June 1, 2017. [Photo/@TheOdmParty]
The National Super Alliance (Nasa) presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, has broken his silence after being snubbed during the Nyeri Madaraka Day celebrations on Thursday.
Mr Odinga was not given a chance to speak during the function presided over by Jubilee presidential candidate, Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto.
The snubbing of the opposition leader has attracted loads of criticism on social media by Kenyans and political pundits.
Speaking after the 54th Madaraka celebrations, Odinga said he honoured the invitation to attend the event, and that it was “their” responsibility to recognise his presence.
“I received an invitation to attend the national day celebrations and I honoured it. It was their responsibility to recognise me. I leave it to the people to judge the way they handled the issue. I don’t want to appear to be complaining,” Odinga told The Nation on Thursday.
He added, “Hio ni shauri yao,” (that is their own problem).
Odinga said he would have handled the function differently.
“I would have done it differently. The event should have been used to preach national unity and remember freedom heroes. This should never been used as a campaign platform, where one party campaigns for re-election,” he said.