Raila, Sonko Snub Gor Mahia Fundraiser as Club Nets ‘Peanuts’

Gor Mahia players [Photo: Courtesy]
Gor Mahia fundraiser, aimed at bailing out the cash-strapped Kenyan Premier League giants ahead of their continental showpiece against Algerian side USM Alger, which was held at a Nairobi hotel on Tuesday, terribly failed following the absence of key invited guests.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Nairobi County Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko and his Senator Johnson Sakaja were to steer the event, with Sonko being the chief guest but none showed up at the packed Charter Hall.

Other notable names who were on the guest-list, but snubbed the event without any apologies, include Kibra Constituency Member of parliament aspirants Imran Okoth and McDonald Mariga (before his candidature was cancelled).

Surprisingly, the club’s CEO Lodvick Aduda, Secretary-General Ben Omondi and 1st Vice-chairman John Pesa were also absent.

Gor Mahia Organizing Secretary Judith Nyangi [Photo: Courtesy].
This information has been confirmed to Opera News by Gor Mahia Organizing Secretary Judith Nyangi.

“Our Patron (Raila), Sonko and many other invited guests did not attend the fundraiser,” she said, adding that, “the amount collected was not announced”.”

But Opera News has established that only about KSh1.3 million was raised.

Notably, Homabay County Governor Cyprian Awiti contributed KSh250,000, club KSh500,000 former Football Kenya Federation president Sam Nyamweya contributed KSh50,000 while the federation boss Nick Mwendwa contributed KSh50,000.

Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier told journalists that Raila never showed up because he was held up somewhere else.

“Patron was not able to be here with us because, according to his Personal Assistant, he is busy at another function,” he said.

Gor Mahia requires at least KSh5 million to honour their CAF Champions League match in Blida, Algeria on Sunday.

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