The newspapers Saturday, October 17, covered an array of topics, including the tension in the Odinga family amid queries over senior ODM and government officials boycotting the late Raila Odinga's first death anniversary.
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1. The Weekend Star
Deep divisions have emerged within ODM and government circles over the handling of Raila Odinga's first death anniversary commemoration, with Ida Odinga's decision to invite former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua drawing sharp criticism from senior party figures.
The anniversary event took place at Migwena Ground in Bondo, but several prominent leaders, including President William Ruto and a number of ODM's top brass, were conspicuously absent. Sources within the party indicated that disputes over the guest list, the event programme, and its political tone contributed to the mass boycott.
National Assembly Majority Leader and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed was among the most outspoken, publicly confirming that Gachagua's inclusion on the guest list was the reason he stayed away.
"I did not attend because when I saw the list, I saw the name of Gachagua and decided I cannot sit in the same forum with him. Baba's spirit cannot sit with such a person," Junet said.
ODM's communications director Philip Etale echoed that position. "I will not betray him [Raila] by associating with someone he cautioned me against. I won't, will not and NEVER will I," Etale said.
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Both men argued that Gachagua's past attacks on Raila and the former Prime Minister's supporters represent an unresolved political grievance that made his presence at a memorial event inappropriate.
Gachagua confirmed that Ida had personally extended the invitation to him, though he said a pre-scheduled commitment in the United States prevented him from attending. In a statement, he praised Raila as the father of democracy and a defender of Kenyans' rights, while accusing unnamed politicians of insincerity in their tributes to the late opposition leader.
"I am a firm believer in giving a man his flowers when he is alive and hearing," Gachagua said.
Ida's decision to invite leaders from across the political divide has split opinion among Raila's supporters. Some argued it reflected their late leader's longstanding practice of engaging political rivals, while others questioned why someone they considered an adversary warranted a special invitation.
Behind the scenes, accounts from those involved in the preparations suggest tensions ran beyond the guest list, with the event's running order and overall political messaging also points of contention between the family and some political organisers.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Odinga family occupies an ambiguous political position ahead of the 2027 General Election. Raila Jnr has signalled backing for President Ruto, while Winnie Odinga's alignment remains less defined, with some observers suggesting she is gravitating towards a faction associated with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna. Ida has reportedly faced sustained online pressure from government sympathisers demanding she declare her political allegiance.
Source: TUKO.co.ke