UPDATE Wednesday, July 20: Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga confirmed that no one was injured after an aircraft carrying his allies veered off at Kakuma Airstrip.
“We thank God the Almighty that nobody was injured in an aircraft that was carrying members of our team that had a mishap at the Kakuma Airstrip.
“I wasn’t onboard the said aircraft myself. Let us continue praying for the safety of all leaders as we continue with the campaigns,” he wrote in a statement.
An aircraft ferrying a group of Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition party politicians veered off the runway while taking off at the Kakuma Airstrip in Lodwar.
The Wednesday, July 20, afternoon happened after the plane malfunctioned following a tire burst which forced it to veer off the runway.
Reports indicated that former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, who is vying for the presidency in the upcoming August 9 General Election, was not part of the entourage.
The team had visited the Northern town for a rally event.
The plane carrying some members of Azimio la Umoja after a tire burst at Kakuma airstrip. July 20, 2022
The plane was one of the three aircrafts ferrying Azimio politicians for a rally to the western party of the expansive Turkana county.
Kakuma OCS, George Onyango, confirmed the incident noting that no one was hurt during the incident.
Earlier in the day, Azimio presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, had endorsed Jeremiah Lomorukai as the coalition’s gubernatorial candidate for Turkana.
He also urged residents to turn up in large numbers and vote for Azimio la Umoja when the country goes to polls on August 9.
As the electioneering season is garnering place, more and more politicians are embracing the use of aircrafts to ease mobility and cover more areas in a day.
The Azimio team was recently filmed in Nyanza with seven choppers that were used to ferry various politicians.
During the presidential running mate debate held on Tuesday, July 19, while responding to a question on the coalition’s use of choppers, Martha Karua stated that Raila and his team have been campaigning using choppers for a long time.
She denied claims that the choppers were provided by President Uhuru Kenyatta who is supporting Raila’s candidature.
Karua noted that the Azimio budget was fully funded by the politicians seeking elective seats, well-wishers,
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga during the launch of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party manifesto at Nyayo Stadium on June 6, 2022.
Sabina Chege
and Kenyans who are supporting Raila’s candidature.
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