Raila, who had been receiving treatment in India, passed away on Wednesday, October 15. News of his death spread quickly across social media and through various news outlets before ODM made any official statement.
Many Kenyans wondered why the party had remained silent for several hours.
Speaking at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Sifuna apologized to Kenyans and members of ODM for the delay.
He said the party needed to wait for proper communication from both the government and the Odinga family before making any announcement.
“I want to take this opportunity to say pole to the ODM family and to all Kenyans. I apologize for the delay in the morning because some media houses broke the news before we could do so,” Sifuna said.
He explained that ODM could not make the announcement before the President since Raila was not just a political leader but also a national figure.
“We had to wait for the Head of State to make the official announcement because Raila Odinga was a statesman and a Pan-Africanist,” Sifuna added.
The Nairobi Senator also said that Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, Raila’s elder brother, was upcountry at the time of the incident.
The party decided to wait for him to arrive in Nairobi before confirming the sad news to the public.
Sifuna asked ODM supporters and Kenyans to remain calm during the mourning period.
He said the late Raila Odinga always believed in peace and unity, and violence would go against everything he stood for.
“Let us not destroy property or attack anyone. Mzee would have wanted us to show peace and love,” he said.
