Lawyer Silas Jakakimba, on Friday, August 4, refuted claims that Azimio's Raila Odinga lifted him out of poverty, as alleged by activist Boniface Mwangi.
Mwangi had faulted Jakakimba, who once served as Raila's advisor, for alienating the opposition leader after 19 years of service.
However, Jakakimba attributed his success to a kind-hearted American Rotarian who came to his aid by graciously covering his entire fees and encouraging him against dropping out of school.
He also argued that he met Raila decades ago and even played an integral role in organising a conference in Seattle, Washington, in 2007, where Raila rallied his followers to support his presidential bid.
"How then could I have been ‘picked’ from poverty at 25? If you respect Raila, leave this line... Whose brief are you holding?" Jakakimba posed.
The dispute between the two emerged when Mwangi raised doubt about Jakakimba's loyalty and questioned why he quit Raila's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.
Mwangi, a photojournalist, accused Jakakimba of sabotaging Raila's 2022 presidential bid by rejecting crucial advice that would have seen the former Prime Minister elected as Kenya's 5th President.
In subsequent posts on his social media pages, the activist claimed he opposed former President Uhuru Kenyatta campaigning for Raila and his co-principal Martha Karua in the 2022 General Election. The duo ran on an Azimio ticket against Kenya Kwanza's William Ruto.
Uhuru, Mwangi argued, was then unpopular among Kenyans and diminished Raila's hopes by openly backing his candidacy. Upon voicing his displeasure, Jakakimba allegedly urged Mwangi to desist from criticising Azimio's leadership.
Mwangi also wondered why Jakakimba had chosen to part ways with the party after quarrelling with Raila's daughter, Winnie Odinga, who currently serves as an East African Legislative Assembly MP.
On March 12, Jakakimba alleged that Winnie had accused him of betrayal and further disrespected him, claims which Winnie vehemently dismissed.
"It is imperative moving forward that Winnie learns to respect people for who they are - if not least, for what they have been in a long journey of several lows and countable highs, for love of Country," the lawyer argued.
Jakakimba, on July 27, also resigned as legal advisor of Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, one of Raila's closest allies.
