Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) leader Kalonzo Musyoka has attributed former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s absence from Raila Odinga’s memorial service in Siaya last Thursday to the violence that marred the event.
Uhuru and President William Ruto were among high-profile leaders who were no-shows at the memorial held at Migwena Grounds, raising questions over the circumstances behind their absence.
Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi on Monday, Kalonzo said Uhuru had sent an advance team to assess the situation ahead of his planned attendance.
According to Kalonzo, the team’s assessment of the security situation may have influenced the former president’s decision not to attend.
“What happened in Migwena was a shameful scene, which I think is what informed Fourth President Uhuru Kenyatta not to show up because he had sent his advance team,” Kalonzo said.
He said the violence witnessed at the venue was contrary to what the family of the late former Prime Minister would have wanted during the memorial.
“It was clear that place was infiltrated with bad faith contrary to what Mama Ida and the family would have wanted to see,” he said.
Kalonzo said stones were thrown at the VIP tent as well as at members of the public, but leaders at the venue remained in place despite the chaos.
“Stones were thrown at the VIP tent and at wananchi. We didn’t move. We stood there,” he said.
Police have since arrested five suspects in connection with the violence, with Kalonzo saying weapons including a machete, sword and knife were recovered.
However, the Wiper leader called on security agencies to widen their investigations beyond those arrested, alleging that some individuals may have financed or organised the violence.
“To the Inspector General of Police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations: Please go beyond the five who were paraded. Follow the money and the vehicles, if you dare do so,” he said.
“Arrest the financiers, not just the youngsters.”
Kalonzo also claimed that some people had been transported to the venue in school buses, which he said were predominantly yellow.
“When we were leaving Migwena, I saw it with my own eyes. People had been brought with so many school buses because they are all yellow,” he said.
He further alleged that he saw people being put into one of the buses while two men were carrying machetes.