Written by PPS 2012-06-17 17:20:00 Read 761 Times

Former Internal Security Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode was finally laid to rest at his Unga home in Ndhiwa constituency on Sunday.

The burial ceremony which was accorded state status was led by President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga in paying their last respects to the late Ojode.

President Mwai Kibaki Kibaki said the country should reflect on the eulogy speeches on peace by Ojode's widow and son.

"Let us heed the advice given to us by Andrew and his mother," he said.

He said that Ojode and Saitoti did their jobs diligently.

"I receive copies of their speeches before they go to Parliament. I know they did a great work," he said.

Kibaki urged the Ndhiwa Constituent residents to elect a hardworking leader who will follow in Ojode's footsteps.

"You are residents of this Constituency, you know whom you can elect," he said.

Subsequently, Prime Minister Raila Odinga implored Kenyans to reject politics of ethnicity during the coming general polls.

He urged them to shun the emerging tribal political groupings and join fellow Kenyans in choosing leaders on the basis of their ideologies irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds.

“We have to break the ethnic barriers and unite as Kenyans because the tribal divides have been retrogressive to our national progress,” The Premier said.

He told Mourners during the burial of internal Security Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode that the nation failed to realize the Kenya dream as coined in the national anthem because of negative ethnicity.

Odinga said the emergence of political groupings like the Western alliance; GEMA and KAMATUSA were derailing efforts to unite Kenyans to work towards a better life.

He urged Kenyans to wisely vote during the coming election to ensure that transitional phase the country was undergoing was in the hands of credible leaders.

The burial held at Ojode’s  Unga farm  in Ndhiwa constituency  was also attended by, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende and at least 93 Members of parliament.

Lands Minister James Orengo in his tribute challenged Kenyans to practice the good virtues they expressed in weddings and funeral ceremonies in their actions and decisions.

He regretted that speakers in such functions were eloquent on the need for unity of Kenyans but retreated to their ethnic cocoons whenever they were called upon to make a political decision.

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