Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga’s daughter Rosemary Odinga has withdrawn her candidature for the Kibra Parliamentary seat.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, Rosemary said that she made the decision following doctor’s advice to pull out of the race and serve her community in the other capacities.
Read the statement: “It is following my doctor’s advice, that for the time being, I will continue serving my community in other capacities and regrettably bow out of the race for Member of Parliament. I would like to thank each and every person that supported my bid and the people of Kibra for opening their hearts and homes to me. I will forever cherish your outpouring love and prayers.”
In the message Rosemary said that despite her bowing out of the race she has in the past two years been honored to engage in Kibra politics otherwise known as the ‘Heart Beat’ of Kenyan politics, not only as a voter but also as a competitor.
Further she appealed to the people of Kibra to stand for what they believe is right by electing good leaders who will change Kenya come August 8 general election.
She said “Over the past 30 years I have fallen in love with the people of Kibra. You have walked hand in hand with my family, we have laughed together, and we have mourned together.”
The move by Rosemary comes after early this year she was flown to South Africa for further treatment after being hospitalized at the Agakhan hospital for about eight days.
Rosemary, Raila’s second born, who was diagnosed with meningioma – a brain tumor that it non-cancerous was flown to South Africa accompanied by neurosurgeon Oluoch Olunya and Amref flying doctors.
Rosemary had been admitted to Nairobi Hospital before being taken to the Aga Khan, where doctors were to remove the meningioma.
A meningioma can cause blindness, problems with movement and multiple other complications as it grows and presses into the brain
It is not immediately life-threatening but remains a serious threat to Rosemary’s health, as it in the meninges – the lining between the brain and the skull.
Rosemary would have squared it out with current MP Ken Okoth and former aide to Raila, Eliud Owallo in the ODM nominations.
