PM’s Sh1 million a plate dinner raises Sh150m

By ANDREW TEYIE

Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Monday held an exclusive Sh1 million a plate dinner, raising close to Sh150 million in less than two hours at a Nairobi hotel.

The event, organised by the PM’s campaign team, attracted about 100 guests who included foreigners, businessmen and politicians.

The head of Raila’s presidential campaign team is Eliud Owalo.

The dinner comprised of onion soup for starters, while the main meal had chicken, fish, ugali and potatoes. Among invited guests was a deputy prime minister from Kosovo.

 The country has six deputy premiers. The Kosovo DPM was introduced to other guests by Raila.

Other foreign dignitaries were officials from the Republic of China. It is not known how much they contributed to the kitty.

Notable local guests were, among others, Karim Popat and Keroche Breweries Chief Executive Officer Tabitha Karanja.

In her speech, Ms Karanja lauded Raila as a leader in promoting local businesses. Among the politicians were ODM Secretary General Anyang’ Nyong’o and Planning Minister Paul Otuoma.

While introducing Popat, Raila spoke glowingly of him. He said how Popat gave him funds that he used to buy his first car back in 1977.

The dinner programme was in Orange, ODM’s official colour.

On the front cover, it had a huge picture of a smiling Raila walking away under the title Raila Odinga, ready to change the country.

A beaming Raila took guests through his vision and mission. His work plan focused on three key issues – infrastructure, jobs and poverty eradication.  However, infrastructure and jobs were top of his agenda.

The event was scheduled to start at 6.30pm and end at 9.30pm. It, however, delayed and started at around 8pm and ended just before 11pm.

Raila’s ODM, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper party and Ford Kenya have come together to form Coalition of Reforms and Democracy (Cord).

They are yet to pick Cord’s presidential candidate. However, all indications suggest that Raila will be the flagbearer.

The Cord alliance will be in the  race for State House against the Jubilee Coalition that is currently in the process of picking its flag bearer.