The government has dismissed claims that it did not invite top leaders from Ukambani region including Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka to attend the Mashujaa Day celebrations held in their home turf of Kitui at Ithookwe Stadium on Monday.
Speaking during a call in session on NTV on Tuesday morning, government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura dismissed the claims that the government had knowingly declined to extend an invitation to the leaders including the county Senator Enoch Wambua and the neighbouring Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior.
Mwaura was responding to claims raised by Senator Wambua who decried that the government in a bid to lock out its critics locked them out of the important national event.
According to Wambua, he did not receive any personal invitation to attend the event despite being in his home county and the critical role he plays as the Senator of Kitui.
"You have heard your answer, there was no invitation. The Spokesperson needs to be honest and we must be honest with ourselves. Let us just agree that there was a breakdown in protocol," Wambua stated.
Mwaura, however, insisted that Mashujaa being a public holiday was open to all members of the public and as such, the government needed not to send personal invitations to all leaders.
"Let us put politics aside, this was a very important national event and there was no reason to bar any leader from attending the event especially when the government chose to centre the celebrations in honour of our fallen hero Raila Odinga, for the sake of unity," Mwaura asserted.
"This is an open event for every one. This is an open invitation specifically for those who are those in parliament. There is always an automatic invitation to them. Let's not make it look like some people were uninvited there."
At the same time, Mwaura extended another invitation to the leaders during the upcoming repushed presidential tour when William Ruto is expected to tour the region in two weeks.
According to him, the government would be keen on seeing all leaders from the region attend the working tour for the benefit of the region's residents.
During the late Raila Odinga’s state funeral service at Nyayo National Stadium last Friday, his long-time political ally Kalonzo Musyoka was not allowed to address the thousands of mourners who had gathered, further heightening tensions between the opposition and the government.
However, during the burial ceremony on Sunday, Kalonzo was invited to speak, even as other opposition figures, including Martha Karua, David Maraga, and Fred Matiang’i, were notably absent from the programme.
