PLP Party Leader Martha Karua has now explained why some key opposition figures, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, did not attend Raila Odinga’s goodbye. Speaking on October 21, 2025, Karua alleged that the opposition was purposefully excluded from the funeral arrangements, making numerous leaders feel uncomfortable at the service.
According to Karua, the funeral ceremony appeared to prioritise government dignitaries, diplomats, and ally MPs while completely disregarding the opposition. She claimed that despite the opposition’s genuine intentions to honour Raila, they were not recognised or acknowledged during the proceedings.
This, she argued, generated a sense of exclusion, discouraging certain crucial figures from attending.Karua claimed that the similar marginalisation occurred at the Nyayo Stadium burial service, where organisers avoided addressing opposition figures.
She described it as a continuation of efforts to eliminate the presence and impact of the opposition at celebrations honouring a man who spent his life fighting for inclusivity and fairness. The veteran politician said the contempt for the opposition was a clear indication that the event had been politicised to benefit particular interests.
She said that many opposition members who did not attend did so on principle, refusing to participate in a ceremony that appeared staged for political optics rather than togetherness.Karua argued that genuine honour to Raila’s legacy rests in respecting all political views, even those in opposition, because that was the very cause he championed throughout his life.
By Nairobi