KANU chairman Gideon Moi has attended Raila’s hyped Azimio la Umoja event at Kasarani Stadium deviating from his co-principals of the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) who snubbed the invitation to attend. 

On Friday morning, the Baringo Senator in the company of former MP Cyrus Jirongo together with KANU Secretary General Nick Salat paid Raila a visit at his residence in Karen before the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) chief left for the event. 

“Catching up with the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga and Min Piny, Mama Ida Odinga ahead of the #AzimioLaUmoja convention,” Gideon tweeted.

Catching up with the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga and Min Piny, Mama Ida Odinga ahead of the #AzimioLaUmoja convention. pic.twitter.com/3cFkCXfSCY

— Gideon K. Moi (@MoiGideon) December 10, 2021

Once at Kasarani, the former Prime Minister was triumphantly received by thousands of his supporters amid song and dance. 

Raila who was accompanied by his wife Ida Odinga and close family members waved to the welcoming crowd as his motorcade made its way to the podium for the event missed by the three OKA principals. 

Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi, his Wiper counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka and Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula on Thursday, December 9 excused themselves stating that they had personal engagements to attend to. 

Mudavadi was categorical that he would not attend the event as he was engaged elsewhere.

“I have just received an official invitation to Azimio la Umoja Convention. As noted herein, the invitation was addressed in my personal capacity as ANC Party leader and not OKA principal. Regrettably, I will not be able to attend because of personal engagements,” Mudavadi tweeted.

“Raila Odinga is a worthy competitor, I wish him well because tomorrow will clearly be his day in the sun,” he added, suggesting that he was treating Raila as an opponent come 2022

Kalonzo on the other hand was away in South Sudan on official business as an envoy. 

“I was welcomed by Amb Barnaba Marial Benjamin; South Sudan’s minister for Presidential Affairs to the State House, Juba, for talks with H.E President Salva Kiir on the peace process in South Sudan,” Kalonzo said through his Facebook page. 

Speaking to People Daily earlier in the week, Wetang’ula had remained largely non-committal on whether he would attend the event, as he had not received any invitation.

“I cannot attend an event to which I have not been invited.  I can only comment on my attendance or otherwise, once I get the invitation,” he said.