Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has dismissed claims that he sponsored the heckling of ODM leader Raila Odinga at Gusii Stadium in Kisii.
In a recent statement, the senator distanced himself from the incident, noting that he was away on work-related duties in Mombasa.
Onyonka moreover denied any association with the large turnout of Shabana FC fans at the stadium, arguing that their support for the team is well known.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has described claims that he sponsored Raila Odinga’s heckling at Gusii Stadium on Sunday as utter mediocrity. Photo: Courtesy.
“It is unreasonably absurd for someone to imagine that an individual can mobilize/pay more than 15,000 passionate football fans to attend a football match, something they have always done unrelentlessly before without any iota of influence from anyone. Shabana fans are known worldwide for giving unequivocal support to their team. It is an insult to them, for anyone to purport that they get paid to attend matches,” he noted.
According to Onyonka, the incident was a wake-up call for political players to assess the growing resistance to Raila in Kisii.
“The events that happened in Kisii this afternoon are regrettable. Nevertheless, this should serve as a wake-up call to the concerned players to scrutinize and know why the people are/were resisting Baba Raila Odinga in Kisii,” he noted.
His statement came just a few hours after Raila encountered a hostile reception at Gusii Stadium as a section of the crowd heckled and jeered him.
The ODM leader was attending the official launch of Shabana FC’s new kits, an event attended by several dignitaries, including Kisii Governor Simba Arati and his Nairobi counterpart Johnson Sakaja.
Following Raila’s arrival at the stadium, sections of the crowd chanted ‘Raila Must Go’ while others staged a walkout as he began addressing the crowd.
