Why Raila Walked Out Minutes to Moses Kuria's Speech

The BBI rally held in Mombasa on Saturday, January 25, ended abruptly with ODM leader Raila Odinga walking out of the VIP podium as leaders were addressing the crowd. 

Minutes before the former prime minister left the podium, Suna East MP Junet Mohammed had stated that Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria would be delivering his speech after some residents asked for him to speak.

However, the meeting ended abruptly, leaving Kenyans and members of the fourth estate who were following the rally in a state of confusion.

Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho during the Mombasa BBI consultative forum on Saturday, January 25, 2020.

According to K24 Digital, Raila is said to have ordered the program to end immediately after leaders allied to him and President Uhuru Kenyatta started attacking Deputy President William Ruto supporters in their speeches.

It is said that he was not happy with the leaders, hence, asked Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and Junet, who was running the program, to end the rally.

“The ODM leader had sensed that tensions were rising, and there was a need for the ceremony to end as peacefully as it had begun," Daniel Kariuki, a reporter at the station stated.

Ruto allies who attended the rally included Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen, Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria among others.

While delivering his speech, Cherenganyi MP Joshua Kutuny castigated Murkomen after he changed tune and announced that he was in full support of a referendum.

Previously, Murkomen had asked President Uhuru Kenyatta and Odinga to pass the Building Bridges Initiative report through Parliament.

However, on Saturday, Murkomen stated that the report had brought Kenyans together despite political affiliations and advocated for a referendum.

"In the history of Kenya, it will be remembered that on this day, we have set aside our differences aside and Kenyans will work together.

"We propose that Kenya must go for a referendum if at all there will be a deputy prime minister and a prime minister so that citizens will propose the kind of leaders that they would want," Murkomen stated.

While responding to Murkomen's sentiments, Kutuny asked Ruto allies to mean their words.

"Today they have come to the rally and we have had them call Raila Baba but I have not heard them ask for forgiveness for calling Baba, mganga (witch doctor). I announced before, that the merging of Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga, forms a tsunami.

"However, I want to warn them and say that their declaration should come from the heart and not just politics, "Kutuny stated.