NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 10- Raila Odinga, a former Kenyan Prime Minister and one of the most experienced politicians, on Friday gave an emotional speech that detailed his fight for democracy- that saw him jailed for years, alongside other second liberation fighters.
He also highlighted some of the economic initiatives he intends to implement if elected the fifth President of Kenya.
Among some of his most painful experiences was when his mother died in 1984 but the prison wardens took two months to inform him of her death.
“I never got a chance to say goodbye,” he said in a speech broadcasted in all mainstream media houses and watched by millions across Kenya. “I bear my physical and psychological scars with pride.”
Odinga also paid homage to his colleagues like Koigi Wa Mwere and the late Kenneth Matiba, for the role they paid in restoring democracy in Kenya.
For 6 years, Odinga who will be on the presidential ballot for the fifth time did not sleep on a bed.
In an era of unrelenting human rights abuse by the Kenya Africa National Union government under former president, the late Daniel Arap Moi, Odinga was placed under house arrest for seven months after he was implicated alongside his late father Oginga Odinga for collaborating with the plotters of a failed coup attempt in 1982.
Hundreds of Kenyan civilians and thousands of rebel soldiers died in the coup. Several foreigners also lost their lives.
Odinga was later charged with treason and detained without trial for six years.
During his detention, relatives including his own mother died, “I never got a chance to say goodbye. I would never wish this to anyone, not even my worst enemy.”
He was held at the Kamiti Maximum Security prison alongside other political detainees.
After serving his 6-year jail term, Odinga was re-arrested on February 6, 1988, and later released on September 1988.
The then regime was uncomfortable with his pro-democracy and human rights agitation at a time when the country continued to descend deep into the throes of poor governance and the despotism of single-party rule.
Multi-party democracy Kenya, was then, by law, a one-party state.
The man christened by his supporters “Agwambo”, Luo for “The Mystery” or “Unpredictable”, or “Jakom”, meaning chairman, is official on the race to succeed his ‘political brother’, Uhuru Kenyatta.
Odinga accepted the ‘calls’ for him to vie for Presidency at an event dubbed Azimio La Umoja, held at the Kasarani International Stadium.
The event was attended by thousands of Kenyans, government officials including Cabinet Secretaries, Governors, legislators, and businessmen.
“I must pay homage to my brother His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta for the 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,” the former Prime Minister said.
“What makes a great nation is not the men it produces, but the men it honors… I pay homage to those who have gone before us, the fallen heroes of the second liberation. These include Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia, George Anyona, Jean Marie Seroney…”
Odinga will be vying on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party ticket.
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