Azimio la Umoja refuted reports that the Treasury financed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga during his term as the African Union (AU) High Representative for Infrastructure.
While speaking at a rally in Kakamega County, Saturday, February 25, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka explained that the Commission of the continental body instead funded Raila's activities on behalf of the AU.
During his speech, the former Vice President gave examples of Raila's foreign trips that were catered for by the AU.
"I remember his tickets used to come from Addis Ababa and were not paid for by the government. Every cent he used was from the Commison's headquarters in Ethiopia," Kalonzo stated.
Therefore, he urged the public to ignore the reports claiming they were misleading.
"All African countries make an assessed contribution as a member state to the AU. Other countries like Nigeria were making larger contributions because of their population.
"It is not possible for you to now say that the money was to pay Raila. Those are lies because they do not know how the AU works," he clarified.
The Wiper boss also praised Raila for his term at the AU, indicating that the ODM boss was behind some of the infrastructural projects in some countries, such as a highway in Congo.
Kalonzo's response barely came minutes after Raila's legal team issued a cease and desist to Nation over an article that claimed that the Treasury financed Raila's trips.
"You will publish an equivocal apology and/or retraction of the defamatory publication against our client with commensurate prominence in the print and electronic media within 24 hours from the date thereof," read the letter in part.
Reports of the Azimio principal being financed by the Treasury emerged days after his term at the AU came to an end.
According to the AU, Raila's responsibilities were being taken over by African Union Development Agency - NEPAD.
However, the ODM boss indicated that he asked to leave the position to focus on other things he noted were important.
