Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Deputy party leader Godfrey Osotsi has opened up about Raila Odinga's last-minute meeting with senior party officials before his trip to India.
The Vihiga senator disclosed that the former Prime Minister convened a closed-door meeting at the Serena hotel in Nairobi with senior ODM officials to deliberate on critical party issues, including the ODM at 20 event that had initially been scheduled to take place in Mombasa.
According to the lawmaker, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, MPs Rosa Buyu, Junet Mohamed and party Finance Director Joshua Kawino were among those who attended the meeting.
Speaking on Monday evening during an interview on Citizen TV, Osotsi noted that it was during the meeting that Raila announced his plans to travel to India for treatment.
He, however, maintained that Odinga seemed fine and in high spirits and but sought advice on whether to postpone the ODM at 20 ceremony. The Senator revealed that it was in the meeting that the party members decided to postpone ODM at 20 until Raila jets back to Kenya.
"In October this year, he sat at the Serena Hotel, summoning people to see him. I was in the Senate, and he summoned me to see him there. When I went there, we talked about politics, particularly about the party, and he was in high spirits," Osotsi recalled.
"He told me he is fine but wanted to travel out of the country for medical checkups. So he told us to decide whether to postpone ODM at 20 or proceed with it while he is away. So we decided to postpone it until he is back in Kenya," he added.
Nonetheless, Osotsi claimed that the former Prime Minister could have had a premonition of his death, mainly because of the nature of his final words to the party officials.
In particular, the legislator noted that Odinga's decision to come up with the ODM at 20 event that was to be held for three days signified a shift in the party's political trajectory.
"I think he had a premonition about his death because in June this year, he came up with the idea of ODM at 20, he wanted it to be big and to be celebrated for three days, and he planned to invite all politicians who have passed through the party, including President William Ruto," Osotsi disclosed.
According to Osotsi, moments before his trip, Odinga pleaded with the party members to keep ODM stronger and bring in more people ahead of the next general elections.
Meanwhile, Osotsi's comments come against the backdrop of rumoured cracks within ODM stemming from political realignments and differing visions and future among party members.
