Back on March 21, 1988, Kenya was set to host general elections, with former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka seeking to retain the Kitui North parliamentary seat -a post he had secured at just 32 years of age.
However, Kalonzo's wife -Pauline, gave a gripping narration of a bizarre incident leading up to the elections that painted the Musyoka's as voodoo sellers.
According to her recollection recorded in her husband's autobiography, Against All Odds, the two were cast in controversy after an inexplicable encounter with a witchdoctor in Mwingi.
During their campaign rally, the couple was waylaid by a witch doctor who was armed with strange concoctions.
He blocked the couple off, and it took a prayer from the former Mwingi North legislator to remedy the situation.
"Steve was carrying a chain with a cross on it. He told him, Ava (Kamba for elder), we are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. So can you please step aside and let us pass in Jesus' name?" Pauline recounted.
Kalonzo went on to explain that despite the witch being a known associate to his direct political rival at the time, it was his family that was forced to stomach all sorts of rumours.
"Some of those who witnessed the brief encounter twisted the story and spread rumours that I was consulting the witchdoctor," the former VP explained in his book.
However, despite all the negative publicity emanating from his bizarre clash with the witch, Kalonzo was able to successfully defend his seat.
He was re-elected during the 1988 elections and served as deputy speaker of the National Assembly from 1988 to 1992, a period in which he also served as KANU's national organizing secretary up until 2002.
The two got hitched way back in 1985, and they are blessed with four children.
Despite the high political profile of her husband, the shy Pauline often preferred driving herself in her Toyota Corolla.
In June 2019, Kalonzo opened up on his wife's battle with an undisclosed illness that has seen her in and out of hospital since 2015.
"I am at my lowest currently, with a sick wife and not in any elective position. Not even earning what is rightfully yours, people looking down on you when you are down there and throwing stones at you," stated Kalonzo at the time.
He is, however, hopeful that his wife Pauline Musyoka will soon recover and that it will serve as a testimony to sceptics.
