ODM leader Raila Odinga has come out to reveal the new Canaan where he and President Uhuru Kenyatta are trying to take all Kenyans.
He said the new Canaan, is a Kenya free of tribalism. “Kenya cannot grow if tribalism is entrenched. Let us ensure plenty is found within our borders… in the Bible, that is Canaan,” he said during the burial of legendary Benga musician Joseph Kamaru in Maragua, Murang’a County.
He said he agreed with President Kenyatta to take all Kenyans to Canaan during the famous March 9, handshake. Part of the deal was to deal with tribalism and ensure all Kenyans reach Canaan.
The former Prime Minister also had sometimes to criticize the recent killings that have dotted the country. He said those who cause deaths of Kenyans on roads should be severely punished.
I joined mourners at Muthithi Secondary School in Muranga for the final journey of the legendary Joseph Kamaru. His music inspired generations in central Kenya and beyond. It is truly the end of an era. May his soul rest in eternal peace. pic.twitter.com/uSDTjOmiXj
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) October 11, 2018
He said the Wednesday killing of 56 people in an accident at Fort Ternan could have have been avoided. He criticized the premature deaths of young women, saying it must be stopped.
“Vioja zinafanyika, wasichana wadogo wadogo wanauawa…Kamaru hangepeenda vitu kama hizi zifanyike…,” he said.
(A lot of strange things are happening…girls being killed….Kamaru wouldn’t have wanted these things to happen)
“Unafunga msichana unakata shingo… si hiyo ni unyama? Hiyo ni shetani.. wale ambao wanashika wasichana wadogo wanaua ni shetani…na shetani ashindwe.”
(Someone ties up a girl and slashes her throat. Isn’t that beastly or devilish? Those who do that are devils and they have to be defeated)
This was in apparent reference to the killing of businesswoman Monicah Kimani. The latter was slashed in the throat and her body deposited in a bathtub
Citizen TV journalist Jacque Maribe and her fiance Joseph Irungu were charged with the murder. They will appear for plea taking on Friday.
Raila wowed the mourners with his brief story of how he met Kamaru in the musicians’ studio at Luthuli Avenue, Nairobi.
“We then became good friends. When I visited this place (Murang’a) as Transport Minister, I met Kamaru again and he showed me how the roads were bad. They were like roads that lead to heaven. You know in the bible, we are told that the worst road is one that leads to heaven but the one that is tarmacked leads to hell.”
He said Kenya has lost a person who was keen on the country’s unity.
Kamaru passed away on October 3 after developing breathing complications at MP Shah Hospital where he had been admitted. The 79-year-old musician’s career started in 1965. He was suffering from Parkinson’s disease and was in and out of hospital since last year.