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Raila quietly flies back into the country to BBI clamour

ODM leader Raila Odinga. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  Justus Ochieng'  &  Allan Olingo

What you need to know:

  • Mr Odinga made a quiet return on Sunday evening aboard the luxurious Constellation Aviation Airline Airbus A318-112(CJ) Elite A6-CAS, MS4211.
  • Earlier, Mr Haji, who is also the Garissa Senator, said that they will only hand in their report when the principals are ready.

Orange Democratic Movement party leader Raila Odinga is back in the country after a three-week medical stay in Dubai, where he underwent minor surgery.

Mr Odinga made a quiet return on Sunday evening aboard the luxurious Constellation Aviation Airline Airbus A318-112(CJ) Elite A6-CAS, MS4211.

Multiple flight tracking sites showed that the 10-year-old UAE registered Airbus A318 private jet, which seats 19 passengers, landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 9:49pm, having left the Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai at 5:13pm on the same day.

Related

Interestingly, the jet was scheduled for a trip on Sunday to Zambia but was diverted to Nairobi, according to multiple aircraft tracking sites.

It had initially left for Lusaka on Sunday morning, but was diverted back to Dubai while overflying Saudi Arabia, the tracking sites showed.

MINOR SURGERY

Last Thursday, ODM deputy party leader and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, together with the minority whip in parliament left the country aboard the same jet for Dubai, where they were expected to accompany the party leader back into the country on Sunday.

Mr Odinga, according to family sources, underwent a minor back sugery at a German hospital in Dubai.

His return now sets the stage for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) process to resume.

Mr Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta are now expected to formally receive the report from the Yusuf Haji-led steering committee and make it public.

State House is now planning for a possible date for the Head of State and Mr Odinga to receive the report. State House spokesperson Kanze Dena-Mararo told the Nation that, once the date is set, it will be communicated to the public.

“Official communication will be sent through our official portals,” Ms Dena said on Monday.

Earlier, Mr Haji, who is also the Garissa Senator, said that they will only hand in their report when the principals are ready.

“We have finished our report but we will wait for them to give us a date that suits them both so that we can hand it over,” he said.

In the headlines