Former President Uhuru Kenyatta's last-minute withdrawal from the first anniversary of Raila Odinga's death in Bondo was partly influenced by intelligence reports, according to people in his camp. His office has publicly given only a brief explanation and has not confirmed any specific threat.

Kenyatta had been expected as chief guest at the October 15 memorial at Migwena Cultural Grounds in Siaya County. His advance team had already arrived in Bondo, a seat had been set aside for him on the VIP dais, and his flight was ready to leave Wilson Airport in Nairobi by 10am that Thursday, the Sunday Nation reported. He did not turn up at the airport.

'An issue that needed his attention'

Sources close to the former President told the Nation that intelligence reports contributed to the decision. The paper said the nature of those reports was unclear and that there was no official confirmation that any particular threat had been identified.

Asked about the absence, Kenyatta's spokesperson Kanze Dena-Mararo told the Sunday Nation: "There was a change in schedule." Pressed on what caused the change, she said there was "an issue that needed his attention" but gave no further details.

The explanation is the first account from Kenyatta's side of why he missed an event at which he had been widely expected. His absence was all the more noticeable because of his long political partnership with Raila. The two men's March 2018 handshake reshaped Kenyan politics, and Kenyatta backed Raila's unsuccessful 2022 presidential bid against his own deputy, William Ruto.

'Sponsor' jibe from Junet

The empty seat quickly became political material. National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, who himself stayed away from Bondo, mocked Kenyatta as the "sponsor" who had let the crowd down. He said he had assumed Kenyatta was on his way after seeing the reserved seat.

"Huyo ni mtu wa kukata kona, huyo ni mtu wa kuaminika kweli?" Junet asked, questioning whether a man who "cuts corners" could be trusted, The Star reported. Junet said he skipped the event because former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was on the guest list, describing him as a figure associated with "hatred, tribalism and other such things". Gachagua, who was invited, was in the United States at the time.

ODM Deputy Party Leader Simba Arati used his speech to accuse Kenyatta of sponsoring the opposition, the Nation reported. President Ruto has made the same allegation in recent weeks, which Kenyatta has dismissed.

A memorial marked by absences

Kenyatta was not the only big name missing. President Ruto was on a tour of the North Rift. ODM chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, who said she was at a summit in Dubai, and Cabinet Secretaries Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya also stayed away. State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed rejected claims that the President avoided the event because opposition figures were expected, saying solemn occasions "should not become contests over political allegiances."

Opposition figures who did attend included Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa and Jimi Wanjigi. Siaya Governor James Orengo said it was "shocking" that some regional leaders had stayed away.

In a statement on Friday, Raila's widow Ida Odinga said the family had no quarrel with any of its guests. "Every guest we invited was welcome. The Odinga family has no quarrel with any of them," she said. She condemned the booing and intimidation of some guests and described reports that people had been paid and transported to disrupt the event as "deeply disturbing".

Photos: Former President Uhuru Kenyatta (Make It Kenya/Wikimedia Commons, public domain); the Odinga family led by Ida Odinga at the dais during the anniversary in Bondo (Alex Odhiambo/Nation Media Group).