Raila’s podium fall attracts 200,000 views on social media

What you need to know:

  • The Cord leader, Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and several opposition leaders also fell.

  • On September 29, 2014, was whipped by a man identified as Lengo Mdzomba at a public rally in Kwale.

  • Some Kenyans said the Coast region was proving to be a bad omen for Mr Odinga.

The Thursday incident in which Cord leader Raila Odinga fell when a podium collapsed in Malindi had received almost 200,000 views on social media by Monday evening.

The incident elicited comments, with more than 50 likes and only four dislikes by 5.30pm. 

Some Kenyans said the Coast region was proving to be a bad omen for Mr Odinga, who on September 29, 2014, was whipped by a man identified as Lengo Mdzomba at a public rally in Kwale. Mr Odinga did not press charges.

The Thursday video, taken by an amateur photographer, shows Mr Odinga addressing a crowd at Karisa Maitha Stadium behind Cleopatra Theatre when the dais collapses.

The Cord leader, Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and several opposition leaders also fell.

Mr Odinga and Cord co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula were in Malindi to thank voters for electing ODM candidate Willy Mtengo in the March 7 parliamentary by-election.

They were from the police station where they presented a court order to stop the arrest of ODM leaders over election violence.

"SATAN IS A LIAR, SATAN BE DEFEATED"

The ODM supporters were left in shock when the podium caved in.

The incident took place when the Cord principal was narrating Jesus Christ’s visit to the mountain where he was tempted by Satan.

“He was talking about Jesus on the mountain when the devil was tempting him,” Ms Esther Siamini said.

Ms Rachael Kahumbi, another eyewitness, gave the Nation the same story.

Mr Abdul Abubakar said people started shouting “Satan is a liar! Satan be defeated!” as soon as the podium fell.

Ms Siamini said all the leaders, including governors, MPs and ward reps remained on the ground when the podium collapsed.

“Bodyguards rushed to the scene to assist them,” she said.

Kilifi ODM vice-chairman Teddy Mwambire said the podium caved in because it was overcrowded.

“Fortunately, nobody was injured. That is normal. It happens on many occasions,” he said.

NOT INJURED

He asked Kenyans to stop politicising the issue or reading much into it.

“We reduced the number of leaders on the podium to between five to seven and the Cord leader continued to address the rally,” he said.

The incident happened after Mr Odinga, Mr Wetang’ula and Mr Musyoka escorted Mombasa Governor Joho to Malindi Police Station to present the court order.

Yesterday, Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar said Mr Odinga was not injured in the Thursday incident.

“He went on addressing the crowd. It was just as small problem,” Mr Omar said, adding that the Cord leader proceeded to court to obtain an injunction against the arrest of Mr Joho.

Additional reporting by Jeremiah Kiplang’at