Azimio principal Martha Karua on Thursday, April 13, defended Raila Odinga's former Chief Agent Saitabao Ole Kanchory from party supporters who criticised him over his controversial book Why Baba is not the Fifth.
During a meeting between the party and members of the civil society at Ufangamano House, Nairobi, Karua maintained that Kanchory did not betray Odinga.
She argued that he only recounted his account of the 2022 General Election and its aftermath and called on Azimio supporters to respect his views.
"I would not worry about Kanchory's book because he gives his truth as he sees it. One may dispute a section or the other, but there is no doubt that the young man is Azimio by blood.
"He did his work when he was sent to do it. Let us allow an open debate on issues even if you do not agree 100 per cent with what people say," Karua pointed out.
Her sentiments came after former Nyeri Deputy Governor Dr Caroline Karugu criticised Kanchory, accusing him of taking advantage of the trust Odinga bestowed upon him for personal gain.
“Whatever former Chief Agent Saitabao Kanchory is trying to tell Kenyans in his hurriedly authored publication is hot air and full of lies and hate,” Karugu alleged.
In Kanchory's book, he reckoned that Raila's predictability and quest for legitimacy were partly to blame for his loss in the August 2022 General Election.
"Raila's enigma has long been decoded just like Eneke the bird. It is now easy for Baba's friends and foes to predict his next move or action with near certainty," the book read in part.
On April 12, Kanchory added that Odinga was obsessed with legitimacy was his weaknesses in the political situation in the country at the time.
He maintained that Raila was the best candidate to succeed former President Uhuru Kenyatta and termed his loss in the poll a triple tragedy.
"Raila is the best president that Kenya never had. He lost to possibly the worst candidate and he lost on the worst possible circumstances," the former election agent stated.
