Ida Odinga urges youth to avoid protests
Ida Odinga, wife of ODM leader Raila Odinga, has pleaded with Kenyan youth to refrain from attending protests
Ida Odinga, wife of ODM leader Raila Odinga, has pleaded with Kenyan youth to refrain from attending protests, noting that the recent demonstrations are taking an ugly turn.
Speaking on Friday, July 11, while in Migori, Ida alleged that the rate at which young Kenyans are losing their lives at the hands of rogue police during demonstrations is alarming and leaving mothers bereaved.
“To the youth, before you set out to go and demonstrate, please take a look at where you come from. Do not just go out for the sake of going out, please. If you go out and get killed, you are making your mothers and me sad. I plead with you not to go,” Ida said.
Ida was speaking during the burial of Suna West MP Peter Masara’s son, who passed away a week ago.
Additionally, Ida called out the police for aimlessly killing youths. She revealed that, as a mother who has experienced the pain of losing a son, the killings are unnecessary and unfair to parents who are forced to bury their children.
“When we read the Bible, Rachel was very saddened when male children were being killed. In the same way, I am not happy in any way about the killing and maiming of our youth. It doesn’t depend on where. It is wrong by all means, and I am very annoyed,” said Ida, who was recently ordained as a Canon in the Anglican Church of Kenya.
The Canon also sharply criticised sections of the youth in the burial for disrespectful behaviour after they allegedly heckled an ODM Governor and went as far as pushing her.
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“I was very annoyed by your bad behaviour. There is no way you can push a Governor that way. We are here to mourn, we are not here to politic. That is very uncouth and should not be repeated,” Ida said.
She was referring to a tense moment that occurred at the burial shortly before she addressed the mourners. Ida made it clear that she did not want her departure to be obstructed.
“When I am done and it’s my turn to leave, I want all these youth here to pave the way right where they are and let me leave using my chopper that I came with. I know where it is stationed, and I do not want anyone to accompany me.”
Her sentiments come at a time when Kenya is witnessing a wave of youth-led demonstrations, fuelled by economic frustrations, police brutality, and demands for accountability from the Kenya Kwanza government.
So far, over 38 youth have lost their lives just from the Saba Saba protests, according to data by KHRC.
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