The incident happened during Mzee Jackson Kibor's burial. During the incident, rowdy youths pelted Mr Odinga's chopper and vehicles with stones, damaging the chopper's air shield.
14 arrested over Raila attack in Soy
Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Steven Kihara said police are also pursuing a senior politician over the incident.
Chopper carrying ODM leader Raila Odinga lands in Nakuru
Investigators are also pursuing a senior politician from the North Rift region believed to have masterminded the stoning of a helicopter that Mr Odinga had used to attend the burial of Uasin –Gishu politician cum businessman Jackson Kibor at Kabenes, Soy Constituency.
“So far, 14 suspects out of the more than 300 youths believed to have been involved in this ugly incident. We were able to get a statement from the pilot who was flying the helicopter. A chief inspector who escorted the former PM when he landed at the late Kibor’s residence has also recorded a statement,” said Mr Kihara.
The suspects, he said, are being held at various police stations in the county as police intensify search for more suspects. But it is emerging that security lapses led to the attack of Mr Odinga at Mr Kibor’s funeral.
According to Mr Kihara, seven police officers were assigned to the helicopter when the former PM and his entourage arrived at the home shortly after 6 pm.
Although Mr Odinga was expected at the funeral in the morning, he changed his programme and instead proceeded to the neighbouring Iten in Elgeyo Marakwet County where he met Azimio delegates.
He later addressed a rally in Iten town but was forced to cut short his speech after he was heckled by rowdy youths who were chanting pro-UDA slogans.
But according to eyewitnesses, the police were overpowered by the rowdy youths who were advancing towards the chopper as Mr Odinga left the late Kibor’s house.
“I saw three uniformed police officers who attempted to disperse the unruly youths to allow Mr Odinga to board the helicopter but they were overpowered, forcing them to fire twice in the air,” said retired Captain Thomas Samoei, a renowned pilot who was at the funeral.
“Tension started building when Mr Odinga arrived in the homestead. The unruly youth charged at his car as he left the house, pelting it with stones. They continued with the attacks as he boarded the helicopter, a clear indication they knew what they were doing,” said Captain Samoei.
He said under normal circumstances, helicopters should be under tight security when at bay and it is unfortunate that the youths pelted it with stones.
“Nobody will be spared in the crackdown regardless of position in the society,” he said.
The late Kibor’s family condemned the incident, terming it unfortunate and called for stern action against perpetrators of the attack.
“As a family, Mr Odinga had come to mourn the death of his best friend. He was not on a vote hunting mission, we do not understand why they attacked him,” said Kibor’s widow Naomi Kibor.
He said the Kibor and Odinga families will continue to have close relationships and cause youth against being misused to perpetrate violence.
