Opposition leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday left the country for Tanzania to attend the funeral of President John Magufuli's sister of Monica Joseph Magufuli.
A statement by Dennis Onyango, the former Prime Minister’s spokesperson, stated that Odinga would be in Tanzania for just a day.
The statement read: “President Magufuli and the Odinga families are close friends.”
It further added: “Mr Odinga has traveled to Mwanza accompanied by National Assembly Minority Whip Hon. Junet Mohammed. He is expected back in Nairobi on Wednesday.”
On Monday Mr Odinga sent his condolences to the Magufuli family through his twitter account.
“I have learnt with sorrow of the passing of Ms Monica Joseph Magufuli, sister to President John Magufuli. My sincere condolences to the family and the people of Tanzania at this time of mourning. We are together in sorrow,” the Opposition leader stated.
President Magufuli had attended the 2015 burial of Odinga’s first-born son, Fidel, in what had been an ongoing growth of a relationship that spans more than a decade.
During the campaigns, the Opposition leader postured himself as the poster boy of the anti-corruption fight, using President Magufuli example for his planned fight against graft.
“Under President Uhuru Kenyatta’s rule, corruption has thrived. Under my rule, I promise you here today, I will go down to Tanzania, and I will get the Magufuli solution,” Odinga would state during the campaigns.
He also used Magufuli and his renewed relationship with his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni to quiet criticisms on the Jubilee government for what he termed as lack of leadership.
During the presidential debate in July 2017, Mr Odinga, once again, appealed to the Magufuli effect.
“If it were me, I would have taken action, Magufuli style. I would have Magufuli-ed them,” he stated in reference to what he would have done to the corrupt.
