ODM leader Raila Odinga on Thursday opened up about his suffering during his detention, saying his wife Ida literally took a bullet for him.
Speaking when he met pro-handshake women leaders, the former Prime Minister gave an account of his struggles and what his family went through during President Daniel Moi's regime.
Raila said his wife was his pillar during his detention, without whom he could not have made it.
He said life at the Nyayo House dungeons was hell on earth.
“You will not be able to stand if you don’t have someone strong besides you,” Raila said. He lauded Ida for her sacrifice to keep the family together during his woes.
“Ida is a very strong person. She has gone through hell herself. For me, they can say I was troublemaker.”
The ODM boss said Ida paid the price when she was thrown out of her house at Kenya High School together with their children for keeping in touch with the detained Raila.
All three times he was arrested and detained, the former premier said Ida took care of the family.
“I want to tell you Ida has been a strong pillar, without her, I would not have made it."
Meanwhile, pro-handshake women leaders have thrown their weight behind his bid to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.
They announced countrywide campaigns to popularise Raila’s candidature and the Azimio La Umoja drive. The team will hold a rally in Nyeri next week.
They said the former premier is the most experienced leader to take over from Uhuru when he retires next year.
The leaders, led by Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga, are pushing for the consolidation of women's agenda in Raila’s manifesto.
They also seek to field at least 5,000 women candidates in the next election to address the gender imbalance in government.
Former Nyeri Woman Representative Priscilla Nyokabi demanded that Raila’s government adopt a 50/50 ratio of women to men in Cabinet and Principal Secretaries appointments.
“This is a journey of unity and peace. Today, women join the Azimio la Umoja train,” Nyokabi, a commissioner at the National Gender and Equality Commission, said.
They also want gender-based violence prioritised in Raila’s government, saying many women have been unfairly targeted.
“We confirm our commitment that we are with you [Raila] in this journey,” Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara.
Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege admitted that they previously ran a demonisation campaign against the ODM leader in Mt Kenya for Uhuru to win.
She said they have now embarked on a journey to undo the propaganda.
“We have called you many names. On behalf of Central, I ask for forgiveness. We do not have a reformist, a person who has fought for democracy as Baba,” Chege said.
CAS Rachael Shebesh said the ODM leader has been winning elections but has always been rigged out.
“You have won the Presidency three times. I work in government and we know these things. That is why when you came for handshake it was not an easy thing,” Shebesh said.
Speaking during the event at Catholic University, Raila termed next year's polls a revolution that would bring economic empowerment to Kenyans.
The ODM leader said the first and second revolutions brought independence and a new Constitution.
He was accompanied by Ida and daughters Rosemary and Winnie.
Raila also explained his agenda for women, saying his government will propel them to positions of leadership.
He said his administration will focus on mainstreaming the health sector and ensuring improved services.
“Health is one of the major challenges in this country. We must bring doctor to patient ratio to international standards. We will upgrade facilities in the country and evenly distribute doctors to cover the entire country,” Raila said.
He said doctors will have better terms to enable them to serve Kenyans full-time.
“We don’t want someone to be working for the government and having a practice, you must choose to work full-time,” he said.
Present at the meeting were governors Anne Kananu (Nairobi), Charity Ngilu (Kitui), Kiambu Deputy Governor Joyce Wanjiku and MPs Mishi Mboko (Likoni), Annie Wanjiku (Gatundu North) and nominated Senator Agnes Zani.
Others were Woman Representatives Florence Mutua (Busia), Janet Ongera (Kisii), Elsie Muhanda (Kakamega) and Christine Ombaka (Siaya).
ODM woman chair Beth Syengo, Maendeleo Ya Wanawake chairperson Rahab Mwiu and ODM National Elections Board chairperson Catherine Mumma were present.
Edited by A.N
