Raila 'Demands' to be Addressed as President

Opposition chief Raila Odinga on Thursday left the congregation that attended the requiem mass of the wife of former Vice President Kijana Wamalwa, Yvonne in stitches as he jokingly 'demanded' to be addressed as 'His excellency'.

Newly appointed Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa had addressed the mourners at the service held at Consolata Shrine in Westlands, Nairobi, before the National Super Alliance (Nasa) leader was invited to speak.

While giving his speech, Odinga questioned why Wamalwa had addressed him as “former prime minister”, instead of his excellency.

“I am here to mourn my great friend Yvonne, whose husband was also my great friend. But Eugene forgot to say something. He forgot to address me as ‘His Excellency’,” said Raila.

“I do not know whether it was deliberate or by omission but I do not understand why he called other people ‘His Excellency’ and doesn’t think the ‘people’s president’ should be referred to in the same way,” Raila said amidst applause from the congregation.

“I do not want to speak much since I have not made my official address as the ‘people’s president’,” he said.

Odinga, who was on Tuesday sworn- in as peoples president eulogised Yvonne as a humble, generous and dedicated public servant.

Other leaders present included outgoing Foreign Affairs CS Amina Mohamed and Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka among others.

She will be laid to rest at her rural home in Kitale, Trans Nzoia on Saturday.