NASA presidential Raila Odinga, address mourners during the burial ceremony of the late Interior and Coordination, Joseph Ole Nkaissery, at his Ilbisil home, Kajiado County, July 15, 2017. [Photo: @ntvkenya]
Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga, was among hundreds of mourners at the funeral service of the late Interior and Coordination, Joseph Ole Nkaissery.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, and his deputy William Ruto, government representatives from the neighbouring Tanzania, government officials, friends, colleagues and family members were also present, Saturday.
When he was welcomed by Ruto to speak, Raila eulogised the late former Kajiado Central MP, saying he was among the best people he had in his ODM party.
Nkaissery served as an ODM MP 2002, to 2014, when he was appointed by Uhuru, to the cabinet. He was ODM party deputy secretary general at some point.
Raila who is the ODM party leader, said he did not hesitate when Nkaissery, notified him, after Uhuru asked him to take over as the Interior and Coordination CS.
"When he consulted me as his party leader, about him being the Security leader, I told him he was so capable of securing the country. He was an expert in security issues, and I knew he would do a good job. I did not hesitate to allow him to go and start his new role," Raila told mourners, at Nkaissery's Ilbisil home.
Ruto also eulogised Nkaissery, saying he was one of the people who advised him to join ODM, before he (Ruto) left for Jubilee.
"When I saw things are not getting better in the other party (ODM) I told him I am leaving. He said fine. But later, when Uhuru wanted him in our Cabinet, I told him, please ask him to come, and he came," said Ruto.
On his part President Kenyatta recalled how he worked with the deceased, even when he was in Opposition, saying he was the best, and did the best for Kenya.
"When I asked him to work with me, he requested for two weeks, to consult his people and get back to me, and he did exactly that, after the two weeks. He meant his word," noted Uhuru.