Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has strongly denied allegations that he was involved in organizing youths to heckle former Prime Minister Raila Odinga during a football match at Gusii Stadium. The senator, in a detailed statement on X, condemned the incident, calling it regrettable and insisting that violence and chaos have never been part of his political approach.
“Violence and chaos have never been my cup of tea for the more than two decades that I have actively participated in politics. My constituents can attest to this. I discourage political intolerance and call upon our people to act with restraint and soberness in the future,” Onyonka stated.
Onyonka, who was accused alongside other leaders of orchestrating the heckling, clarified that he was away on work duties in Mombasa at the time of the incident. He dismissed the allegations as baseless, questioning the logic behind linking him to the unfortunate events at the stadium.
“I am out for work in Mombasa, and my brother Kibagendi is equally out on work commitments. It is ridiculously stupid for anyone to link any of us with what happened in Gusii Stadium,” he asserted.
The senator also addressed claims that fans of Shabana FC, a popular football club in Kisii, were paid to attend the match and heckle Raila. He termed such allegations as an insult to the club’s passionate supporters who have consistently attended matches without any external influence.
“It is unreasonably absurd for someone to imagine that an individual can mobilize or pay more than 15,000 passionate football fans to attend a football match, something they have always done relentlessly before without any iota of influence from anyone. Shabana Fans are known worldwide for giving unequivocal support to their team,” he emphasized.
Raila Odinga faced a hostile reception at the stadium on Sunday when he stood to address the crowd. His speech was drowned by chants of “Raila must go,” with some fans choosing to walk out in protest. Despite the hostile atmosphere, the opposition leader continued with his address.
Onyonka concluded by stating that the events at Gusii Stadium should serve as a wake-up call to Raila Odinga, urging him to reflect on why some residents resisted him during the event.
