Former Gem MP Jakoyo Midowo issued warnings to his cousins - ODM leader Raila Odinga and his brother Oburu Odinga - days before he succumbed to cardiac arrest.
East African Legislative Assembly MP, Oburu Odinga, stated that Midiwo called him and cautioned the two brothers from attending funerals as they risked exposing themselves to Covid-19.
The deceased specifically asked the duo to stay away from the burial of his uncle, Peter Odima, which happened on Saturday, June 12 and that of his sister, Julia Adhiambo.
Adhiambo will be interred on Saturday, June 19. It was reported that the uncle, sister and grandmother succumbed to the virus whose rate of infection has risen in the Nyanza Region.
"He called and cautioned me that Covid-19 was really killing our people and it is in such funeral ceremonies that we might get exposed because we would draw crowds.
"I cannot make the decision alone, we will and decide whether we will attend the (sister's) burial or just plan for decent burials. It is sad that the people of Nyanza are not afraid of the virus, once they see you and are excited, they fall on you and insist on greeting you, oblivious of the danger it poses," Oburu Odinga told Nation.
Midiwo further asked his cousins to only attend burials once the virus threat lessens as mourners and residents were casual in adhering with Covid-19 restrictions. He lamented that they were also assuming that Covid-19 doesn’t exist.
The former MP passed away at the Nairobi Hospital on Saturday, June 12. He was reported to have travelled from Siaya to Nairobi to attend to celebrate his two children's success. The daughter graduated from a South African university while his son scored an A (plain) in the 2020 KCSE exam.
His warning to the Odinga brothers comes months after Raila Odinga recovered from Covid-19. The former Prime Minister tested positive in March 2021 and was put under isolation.
"God is good. For three weeks, I have been in critical condition. We are living in difficult times and I understand that we are in the middle of a pandemic.
"The economy is deteriorating and so many Kenyans are suffering, we pity them. However, our lives are more important and we need to protect them," Raila stated after making his public appearance on Thursday, April 1, since contracting the virus.
However, critics have criticised him, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto for flouting Covid-19 rules in Kisumu during Madaraka Day on Tuesday, June 1.
The three leaders attracted and interacted with mass followers in Kisumu during the event. The huge crowds did not adhere to Covid-19 restrictions in spite of warnings issued by the Health CS Mutahi Kagwe.
