ODM leader Raila Odinga has given an chilling account of his nine years in solitary detention but said he bears the scars of the liberation struggle with pride.
As he officially declared his fifth stab at the presidency, the former Prime Minister described himself as a proud son of Kenya, a liberation fighter and servant of the people for the last 50 years.
In his speech at Kasarani Stadium, Raila said his he suffered bad eyesight that continues to trouble him with tears always running from his eyes.
“The tears from the torture chambers are still running, as you can tell from the handkerchief that never leaves my hand! For years, I was not allowed to speak with other inmates. In fact, for six years straight, I did not sleep on a bed,” Raila said.
For months on end, he recalled, he was either held incommunicado, in solitary confinement or handcuffed and in transit to the next prison or detention camp.
“Relatives died, including my beloved mother and my own brother, and I never got the chance to say goodbye,” he said.
“I would not wish this torment upon anyone, not even my worst enemy. Together with my comrades who endured torture and survived those dark days of despair, we would never let Kenya degenerate down the road of terror.”
I bear my physical and psychological scars with pride. This is because my country was worth it then, and is worth it now. I bear the scars of liberation with pride, and embrace the blood, sweat and tears they cost me
But an assertive Raila maintained that he is neither repentant nor regretful of his own experience in the fight for a liberated Kenya.
“I bear my physical and psychological scars with pride. This is because my country was worth it then, and is worth it now. I bear the scars of liberation with pride, and embrace the blood, sweat and tears they cost me,” the ODM leader stated.
Raila paid glowing tribute to his wife, Ida Betty Odinga, and his compatriots in the detention chambers, saying, “What makes a great nation is not the men it produces, but the men it honours."
He described Ida, for the first time publicly as “a friend, the wife of my youth, love of my life and partner to death”.
He likened her to a legendary beauty, with the brave heart of Luanda Magere — a mighty legendary Luo warrior.
“In those hard times of long and uncertain incarceration, if I was not reading the Holy Bible, I found deep solace in Mama Ida’s love and support. She became a constant guest of the police cells through constant arrests and harassments. I can’t thank her enough,” Raila stated.
Ida, a trained teacher, was sacked from Kenya High School by the Moi administration as part of the crackdown on the Odinga family.
Raila also paid homage to those he said gave Kenya “the sacred licence to stand tall, to speak free and to think big”.
He named icons Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia with whom he was detained at the Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.
Raila also paid tribute to George Anyona, Jean Marie Seroney, Martin Shikuku, Mukaru Ng’ang’a, Oki Ooko Ombaka, Dr Odhiambo Mbai and Wangari Maathai.
He said he holds the deepest respect for living icons like Mukami waKimathi, wife of Dedan Kimathi, Ngugi Wa Thiongo, Koigi wa Wamwere and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.
Where our founders envisaged unity, we have been held back by divisions; tribe against tribe, region against region, men against women, leader against leader
Mutunga has come under fire in recent years from Raila backers for failing to nulify Uhuru's 2013 victory when he served as CJ.
But Raila also paid pay homage to President Uhuru Kenyatta for what he termed as “foresight and sense of patriotism in initiating the dialogue that led to the handshake”.
“It takes a seasoned statesman to shake the hand of his rival. I thank him. In the course of our discussions, we agreed that Kenya is greater than the two of us. We agreed that despite years of effort, Project Kenya has not quite taken off the way our founders envisaged,” Raila stated.
"Where our founders envisaged unity, we have been held back by divisions; tribe against tribe, region against region, men against women, leader against leader," Raila recalled.
“We agreed that where our fathers dreamt of plenty within our borders, poverty has taken deep root in our land. We agreed that we must deal a deadly blow to corruption before it brings down our country," he said.
Raila went on, "We resolved to work together to unite our people in order to realise the Kenyan Dream as coined by the Founding Fathers: 'Justice be our shield and defender, may we dwell in unity, peace and liberty, plenty be found within our borders.' That is the foundation of the Azimio la Umoja."
(Edited by V. Graham)
