ODM leader Raila Odinga. [Photo/ Nairobi Confidential]
NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga has made a very reckless statement, which borders on propaganda and incitement at a time when national leaders are expected to promote peace during campaigns. When campaigning in Kisii town on Tuesday, Raila claimed that the spokesperson of the Kenya military, Joseph Owuoth, had disappeared before being killed. The careless remark, which is a dangerous lie, came hours after the military spokesman released a statement, saying that he was doing fine at his workplace and that propagandist rumors on social media that he was missing were totally untrue. It is highly irresponsible for Raila, who is challenging President Uhuru Kenyatta for the top seat, to tell people at a public rally such lies. Not at this time. Many Kenyans remember that around this time, in 1982, the ODM leader sought to use the military to ascend to power. The attempt failed miserably. Raila spent a few years in jail for it, while his partners in crime were sentenced to death. It is sad that the same man is now trying to use the military — a highly professional body — to achieve his own selfish gains. It is time the NASA candidate realizes that Kenyans are not ready to be incited to fight each other again. They learned a painful lesson in 2007/08.