Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah has joined Kenyans in mourning the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in a moving tribute, recalling his connection with Odinga's family.
Addressing journalists on Saturday morning at Odinga's home in Bondo, Siaya County, Wajackoyah recounted working for Raila's father, Oginga Odinga, as a food taster.
According to the Roots Party leader, he used to be Jaramogi's food taster while the Odinga family lived in London, England, several years ago.
"He is a source of inspiration to me, and I have followed Raila everywhere. I have known his father; I was his food taster in London, England," Wajackoyah revealed.
Adding: "If I could have eaten and died, then he as well could have gone. If I went to that level of eating poison on behalf of somebody, that shows you how close I was to that family."
Wajackoyah revealed that he received the news of Odinga's passing upon his arrival in the United States, forcing him to immediately jet back to Kenya.
While describing the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader as an enigma, Wajackoyah labelled Odinga as an honest man who lived with immense integrity.
"I have stayed with Raila in London, and as I speak, I have arrived from the US. I had travelled to the US, but when I arrived there, I learned that he had died, and I had to take another flight back home," the Roots party leader narrated.
He further recalled his last phone call with the former Prime Minister, disclosing that he had held a phone conversation with Odinga last Thursday and discussed several issues.
However, Wajackoyah declined to reveal the exact details of their phone conversation but maintained that the ODM leader sounded fine at the time of their conversation.
"Last Thursday, I spoke to Raila when I was in Kilifi, and we deliberated on so many things which I cannot say at the moment. Had I known that he was going to pass, I couldn't have left," Wajackoyah stated.
Raila passed away on Wednesday, October 15, after suffering a cardiac arrest and is expected to be buried on Sunday, October 19, at his home in Bondo, Siaya County.
