Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga has assured the former first family, the Kenyattas, that the Odinga family will remain their friends forever despite political differences.
Making his remarks in Kisumu County during Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s 30th memorial lecture at the historic Ofafa Memorial Hall, an event graced by the former First Lady Mama Margaret Kenyatta, Oburu said his father was a close ally to the first President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
He also recalled the 2018 handshake between his brother, the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the former President Uhuru Kenyatta, saying the differences between the two families have never been personal but ideological.
“Uhuru has not been able to come because he has an engagement in DRC, and his brother Muhoho is also out of the country as well as Mama Ngina, and they have all send their greetings even though they are being represented by former First Lady Mama Margaret.”
“Our family has very fond memories of Mzee Kenyatta. I want to tell those people who used to think that there were a very big rift between Jaramogi and Mzee Kenyatta.”
“Kenyatta was respected by Jaramogi and Jaramogi regarded Kenyatta as his hero. They disagreed on ideological issues where Jaramogi believed in one way and Mzee Kenyatta in another way and that made people up to now to believe that Kenyatta was against the Luo which is not true.”
“The differences between the two families were not tribal but genuine ideological differences. We will continue with the relationship and we will remain friends forever with the Kenyatta family,” said the ODM lawmaker.