Kalenjin elders have formally apologized to former prime minister Raila Odinga following the incident where his chopper was stoned at Kabenes in Uasin Gishu.
The elders said they would after 40 days organize a prayer and cleansing ceremony at the area where the incident occurred.
“As per our tradition, the family of Kibor is still mourning and we cannot do anything at the moment until after the 40 days,” said another elder Paul Tanui arap Tumbo.
The area is located at Kabenes next to the home of Mzee Jackson Kiprotiich Kibor who was buried on the day the incident occurred.
Odinga was in the area for the burial and was leaving when a group of youth surrounded the chopper and pelted it with stones.
Seventeen youth have since been presented before the court over the incident while area MP Caleb Kostany, his Kapseret counterpart Oscar Sudi and speaker of Uasin Gishu assembly David Kiplagat also recorded statements in Nakuru on the incident.
Spokesman of the Kalenjin council of elders in Uasin Gishu Edwin Chepsiror led elders who visited Kibor’s home and the scene where the incident occurred.
The elders said they could not condone such incidents and urged Kenyans to maintain peace and unity during the election period.
“We apologize to Odinga and hope he will accept what we have said because he is also an elder like us,” Chepsiror said.
He said Odinga was a respected leader in the country and did not deserve such an attack.
“In Kalenjin tradition what happened was an abomination. We had come here to mourn and no one should be attacked and hurt during a burial,” Chepsiror said.
He said it is after 40 days that they would meet in the area for cleansing by carrying out rituals so that the same is not repeated.
Another elder David Singo’ei said they were not aware of any plan to attack Odinga.
He said the leaders linked to the incident preached peace during the funeral and could not have planned such an incident.
“We just urge the government to properly investigate the incident and ensure those involved are brought to book,” he said.
Singo’ei said Odinga and all other leaders were free to campaign in the region at any time.
The elders have urged the youth not to accept to be used to cause violence during the ongoing campaigns.
They have also asked political aspirants not to misuse youth or incite Kenyans to violence.
“Our country must remain peaceful during and after the polls,” he said.
