Being Raila's Brother Was a Biological Accident - Oburu Odinga Says

Nominated Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Oburu Odinga on Monday made an interesting remark noting that being Opposition chief  Raila Odinga's brother was just a "biological accident".

Dr Oburu made the remark to shrug off accusations that he has been riding on the fame of his younger brother Raila to get favours from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.

Speaking at a press conference from a Mombasa Hotel, the nominated MP refuted claims that his nomination by ODM to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) was out of his kinship to Raila.

An agitated Oburu stated that he had every right just like any other individual in Kenya, to apply and seek nomination for the seat.

“Raila does not make me, in fact, I am older than him, I joined politics before he did, I started as councillor when he was still a lecturer at the university of Nairobi. Raila being my brother is out of a biological accident,” Oburu stated.

He rubbished claims that he was clinging to his younger brother’s coat to get a softer landing after being defeated in the party’s primaries.

Oburu instead pointed an accusing finger at the Jubilee Party and especially the Leader of Majority Aden Duale for instigating the nepotism tag in a ploy to distract and tarnish the ODM party leader's name.

“I was taken back by the very reckless comments by my brother Honourable Duale which I saw Yesterday. Duale was speaking powerfully on a non-issue thinking that they had got Raila on a wrong foot.

“By saying that Raila is favouring his brother that can be a negative on his candidature,” lamented Oburu.

Oburu’s sentiments came hours after Raila's spokesperson Dennis Onyango confirmed that Oburu had rejected the party’s EALA offer.

Onyango revealed that while ODM had considered nominating him to the seat, Dr Oburu formally declined the offer last week and instead asked the party to give priority to one of those whose nominations were shot down by Jubilee, the last time.

Read also Odinga Rejects New Job Offer

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