Muhanji Matekwa, 65-year old man who was locked in the same Prisons with Raila Odinga has come out to narrate how he saved Odinga’s life.
Muhanji was working at a motors company in 1970s as a the security officer but was arrested and sentenced to death after the murder of the manager of the company by thugs.
“I was sentenced to death over allegations of being involved in the murder of the Asian. I was taken to Naivasha Maximum security and later President Daniel Moi changed the death sentence ito life imprisonment,” Muhanji said in an interview with Shahidi TV.
The sentence was changed after being in jail for around 3 years since 1979. Raila was brought to the prison about 10 years later by the time Muhanji was used to prison life.
“I knew him from the papers and politics, by then I was in charge of food for the prisoners,” he said.
He said that Raila and other politicians would be blind folded whenever they were taken out of their cells. He was however able to access Raila as he would take him food because of his position.
Muhanji told Shahidi TV that there were plans to kill Odinga and his colleague identified as Titus Adungosi for being a nuisance to the government.
“Raila began his politics while in Nairobi university and I knew him because he was a hero. He was with Titus Adungosi, and the plan was to finish the two of them. I briefed Adungosi and told him to be keen. Adungosi later developed a swelling on the side of his stomach,” he narrated.
Adungosi was taken to hospital and that was the end of him. Muhanji says that a doctor known as Wacira was responsible for executing such a mission.
On the other hand, Raila was to die of food poisoning. He was informed of the plan because he was in charge of food but he was not willing to execute it.
“Odinga was to die of slow poisoning through his food. All that was President Moi’s plan. I can’t hide that. I was also incorporated in the plan by the officer in charge Titus Mutie Malombe,” Muhanji explained.
Together with the sergeant at the reception, they came up with a plan that blew up the plan.
“I was told that something would be put in Raila’s food and I would be in charge of taking it to him. But my heart was not settled. I went and talked to sergeant Gabriel Olang’o about the plan. I told him to write a letter to Jaramogi Oginga so that the matter could be announced on radio and that is how the plan blew up,” Muhanji said.
Prison officers suspected of revealing the secret were transferred. Muhanji was also suspected to be behind the leaked information and was transferred to Kamiti before being taken to Shimo la Tewa where they met again with Odinga.
But Raila was released leaving him behind. He however asked him not to forget him. Muhanji was later released after being forgiven by president Mwai Kibaki after 25 years.
Watch the full interview below.
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