ODM leader Raila Odinga reportedly met Jubilee vice-chairman David Murathe, Cotu secretary-general Francis Atwoli, Siaya Senator James Orengo and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed at Atwoli's home in Idamat, Kajiado County on Monday, April 13.
The sighting of Odinga's apparently being cleared through a roadblock in Kajiado County caused an online uproar with former Secretary of Innovation, Digital and Diaspora Communication in the Office of the President, Denis Itumbi, claiming that the African Union envoy, Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa and Murathe were cleared as essential services providers.
"Raila Odinga, CS Eugene Wamalwa and David Murathe cleared as essential services providers at Kiserian Roadblock. The real mission was a meeting with Francis Atwoli at his Idamat, Kajiado home," Itumbi claimed.
An NTV journalist interviewing police at Isinya, Kajiado roadblock, while reporting on how the officers were effecting President Uhuru Kenyatta's directive on cessation of movement was being adhered to, affirmed that the car belonged to Raila.
"This is an international highway as it leads to Namanga border and Tanzania and goods and essential service providers are only allowed to go through this roadblock. This is the vehicle used to ferry ODM leader Raila Odinga. We are not sure if Odinga is inside the vehicle," the journalist narrated as his attempts to interview the occupants failed to succeed.
Aden Ahmed, Isinya Sub-county criminal investigation officer distanced himself from commenting on the occupants of Odinga's car.
"We allow safe passage only two or one passengers as directed. As of the occupants of the car, we do not know who is the owner, but as long as it had one passenger and one driver and had documentation, then we allowed it to pass," Ahmed stated.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, on Monday, April 6, banned movement in and out of three counties; Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi and tthe Nairobi Metropolitan Area, as the Ministry of Health marked the areas as Covid-19 hotspots.
"There shall be the cessation of all movement by road, rail or air in and out of the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties for a period of 21 days. We must escalate our response even more to safeguard our nation," he explained with a list of essential providers being later circulated.
Exiled lawyer Miguna Miguna also lashed out at Odinga and Murathe accusing them of flouting Kenyatta's directives.
"Fellow Kenyans, Raila Odinga lives in Karen, Nairobi County. David Murathe lives in Garden Estate, Nairobi. Why were they allowed to leave and return to Nairobi after visiting Francis Atwoli in Kajiado County? Is the Nairobi lockdown only imposed on ordinary Kenyans?
"Moreover, Raila Odinga, David Murathe, their drivers and bodyguards were inside one Toyota Land cruiser vehicle in violation of the two-passenger per vehicle rule by the despotic regime of Uhuru Kenyatta. We must say no to impunity," Miguna posted on Facebook on Monday, April 13.
Other Kenyans joined in the debate, some in support of Odinga as others asked him to self-isolate.
"Baba is not an essential service provider. Baba himself is the essential service," Mohamed Wehliye responded to Itumbi's tweet.
"Even a regular person can obtain a licence/pass. The people's president (Odinga] and head of workers (Atwoli) are way above that. Direct your tantrums elsewhere... Reggae only stopped for team Tangatanga!" Muthui Mkenya weighed in.
"Wazee (Atwoli, Baba and Murathe) should be social distancing instead of moving around," another netizen chipped in.
Video: NTV
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