Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, on Sunday, August 10, revealed the ailment that saw him airlifted to Dubai for specialised treatment.
In a sit down with Nation Media Group Editorial Director Mutuma Mathiu, the former premier revealed that he experienced pain around his waist down to his legs.
He, however, noted that he was feeling much better and was even capable of undertaking nearly all the tasks he used to perform before the illness kicked in.
"I am feeling much better now. I was having bit of pain around my waist and going down my legs all the way to the foot and the doctors told me it was called Spinal Canal Stenosis.
"What they did for me when they took me to Dubai is a minor procedure called Lumbar decompression and fusion to ease that pain that was happening," he explained.
The procedure lasts for between 2 hours and 7 hours to operate after which the patient needs time to recuperate.
"This morning, just to give an example, I have walked around a lap here and it is three kilometers and I was jogging part of the distance so I am getting fitter. Shortly I will get back to the gym.
"There is not anything that I could do before that I cannot do now. I can do virtually everything. I am now good to go," he explained.
Odinga arrived back in the country on Sunday, July 12, from Dubai where he had traveled to undergo the minor surgery.
For two weeks after he returned, he made no public appearances as he was expected to self-quarantine at home in line with Covid-19 regulations.
Raila underwent surgery at the Saudi German Hospital (SGH) Dubai.
What is Spinal Stenosis
According to Spine-Health, Spinal stenosis occurs when one or more bony openings within the spine begin to narrow and reduce space for the nerves.
The symptoms of the illness ranges from mild pain confined to the neck or lower back, or it could be an electric-like pain that radiates into the arm and legs.
Others include numbness in arms and legs as well as reduced strenth especially in the limbs.
Prevention
People can, however, prevent themselves from contracting the disease through regular exercises to keep the spine flexible, maintaiing a good posture by safely lifting heavy objects as well as maintaining healthy weight.
MPs Worship Money
During his NTV interview, Raila also described Parliament as weak claiming that most MPs worshipped money.
"There is nothing like opposition is weak here, Parliament is weak as an institution. Something which is now coming in among our youth, the love for money.
"You can see this even in our representatives both at the county level and national level. Members of Parliament are asking for money to do something, that never happened in our days," he observed.
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