Junet explains why he skipped Raila’s Bondo memorial

National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed has said he stayed away from Raila Odinga’s first anniversary memorial because he objected to sharing a platform with Rigathi Gachagua.

The Star reported his explanation on 17 October. Junet spoke in Eldoret while accompanying President William Ruto and said the invitation list had influenced his decision.

Gachagua did not in fact attend the Bondo commemoration. He had separately said he was in the United States on a prearranged programme. Junet’s explanation therefore concerns his reaction to the expected guest list, rather than a meeting between the two at the event.

The remarks show how the memorial has become a point of dispute among political figures associated with different alliances. They do not establish that an invitation represented an agreement between the Odinga family and any political camp.

Junet’s characterisation of his rivals remains his political opinion; this report does not adopt it as fact.