ODM distances itself from Sh1m per plate Raila dinner poster

ODM leader Raila Odinga.

ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Photo credit: Tonny Omondi | Nation Media Group

ODM leader Raila Odinga’s office has distanced him from a Sh1 million per plate dinner slated for Tuesday next week that has recently been publicised on social media.

And in what seems to indicate that the announced event was fake, leaders like Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga, who had published the event’s poster on her Facebook page, pulled it down.

There was heated debate after the posters of the event appeared on social media, with a number of Mr Odinga’s allies announcing they will attend the dinner at the Villa Rosa Kempinski hotel in Nairobi.

When the Nation contacted the former Prime Minister’s spokesman Dennis Onyango on Friday seeking to know why the event had been put off after news that the dinner had been postponed, he said the information did not come from them.

Asked why a number of Mr Odinga’s lieutenants had publicised the event on their social media pages, he directed the Nation to ODM lawmakers.

“Did we announce a dinner.... kindly check with them,” Mr Onyango told the Nation in a brief text message response.

But for Embakasi East Babu Owino, an ally of Mr Odinga, the event has been postponed to a later date due to the huge number of individuals who have expressed intention to attend, hence requiring a bigger venue.

“Due to unanticipated overwhelming support, the dinner has been postponed to a later date (to be communicated) for better planning. Apologies for the inconvenience caused,” Mr Owino posted on his Facebook page.

Earlier, Mr Owino had said: “As the Kenyan youth, we have analysed and concluded that our future and that of our children can only be safe in the hands of Baba (Mr Odinga) and for that reason, we will invest in him. We will contribute Sh1 million each towards Baba’s campaign.”

When the Nation contacted the person who was to be reached out and also identified as ‘Akumu’, she was unable to explain why the dinner was put off.