Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero was again heckled by rowdy ODM youths during the public viewing of remains of the late senator Otieno Kajwang’.
Governor Kidero was forced to cut short his speech as youths booed him forcing him to prematurely leave the venue for an unknown location. Kidero had been introduced to the podium by the mistress of ceremony (MC) nominated senator Elizabeth Ongoro however chants by youths close to the dias opposed to his address did not abate till he handed back the microphone.
CORD leader Raila Odinga did not attempt to cool the youths, though Siaya Senator James Orengo is said to have urged the crowd to let the Nairobi governor speak.
During the fundraiser of the late Kajwang’, Gov Kidero had donated sh 200,000 and an undisclosed amount which he gave to the family.
This was the second time ODM youths were heckling governor Kidero. The woes of the governor started a few months after the jubilee government came to power when he accompanied Uhuru to the China at a time former prime minister Raila Odinga was touring the United States of America with other governors.
This was interpreted to be a snub on the ODM leader. Again, Kidero has been perceived to be close to the Jubilee Alliance government more than the opposition CORD, culminating in his lukewarm support of the proposed constitutional referendum by CORD.
His numerous fundraisers in Nyanza has also been an issue in some ODM quarters.
Before he departed, Kidero was said to be at loggerheads with the late Senator Otieno Kajwang’, a charge which allies of the Nairobi governor dispute as propaganda. Kidero has not been seen in public with Hon Kajwang’ though sources say the two often talked privately.
Today, he was booed for an allegation that he and Hon Kajwang’ had an altercation before the latter passed, a charge that has been found to be false as the two politicians had neither met nor talked to each other in recent weeks.
Kidero had been booed – for the first time in an ODM affair – during the return of ODM leader Raila Odinga from an extended trip to the United States. The Boston return, dubbed, baba while you were away, happened at Uhuru Park in Nairobi, the same venue that Kidero was again heckled today.
Since then, Kidero has avoided a public meeting with top ODM leaders, the only time being during the Kibera Toy Market fire inferno where he visited the place alongside Odinga and other Nairobi leaders.
It is unknown whether Gov kidero will attend the Homa Bay funeral though a source close to the governor has told this writer he will be there. Kidero has sizeable backing in South Nyanza where he also hails from, and it will be interesting to observe the people’s reaction.