Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has offered to help a former prison officer who helped him during his difficult times during his imprisonment at Shimo la Tewa in 1982.
Raila was addressing residents of Mbololo Town in Voi on Tuesday, March 2, when he dropped John Mwavuda's name - a former prison officer who hails from the same area.
The ODM leader revealed how Mwavuda would sneak letters to his wife Ida - enabling him to communicate with his family during one of the most difficult time of his life.
Raila, who referred to the officer as a personal friend, noted that Mwavuda risked a lot to sneak his letters from the prison to his wife who lived in Nairobi at the time.
"I am always happy when I come here because I get to meet my friend John Mwavuda.
"This man was my police officer at Shimo la Tewa. We have been together for many years. Every time I wrote a letter, he would take it to Nairobi," stated the former Prime Minister
"He used to tell me when he would travel, so I would write a letter to my wife. He would take another letter to the provincial officials," he added.
Raila promised to return the favour by helping Mwavuda financially.
"He has a human heart. He has been having problems, and I will help him now," revealed the former Prime Minister.
Raila further indicated that he spent three and a half years at Shimo la Tewa before being transferred to Kamiti where he spend two years. He was then taken to Naivasha Prison for a year before being moved to Manyani where he spent six months.
Raila was detained alongside a group of other vocal leaders after the 1982 coup attempt.
Most of those arrested were released in 1988 by then President Daniel arap Moi Kenyatta.
Raila, at the time, complained of minimal medicare and being held incommunicado in solitary confinement.
The letters, he revealed were also meant to help guide Ida in finding him a lawyer, although it was a tough call as most of the lawyers scurried from his case.
Below is the video:
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