Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi is one of the country's senior-most politicians who has never lost an election since joining elective politics in 1992.
But beyond the serious business of politics and law, which he practised before joining politics, the 69-year-old was once a deejay in the early 70s.
This was revealed by the Governor's childhood friend and close confidant Alhaji Mwendia who described the Kiraitu as a village celebrity who inspired many people in his generation.
“Kiraitu was a role model to us. You know he was a deejay where he was playing Lingala music and in those days, if you were playing Lingala music you were a village celebrity” he noted.
He revealed this while he was talking about how his life-long friendship with the governor began.
After a stint as a deejay in Meru, Kiraitu joined the University of Nairobi where he studied law and made a name for himself as a great defender of human rights. This also drew some of his friends, such as Mwendia, to also join the liberation struggle.
“At that time, we were agitating for multi-party democracy, we felt that multi-party democracy was a right and no one was doing us a favour.
"Kiraitu was a human rights lawyer-activist along with others like James Orengo, the late Ouma Muga, Wanyiri Kihoro," Mwendia stated.
He also revealed that at some point Kiraitu was ODM Leader Raila Odinga's lawyer as he was the only lawyer who had the guts to represent the people who were being harassed by the government.
The Jubilee Meru County Secretary noted that Kiraitu going to exile brought inspiration to him and others to continue fighting for multi-party democracy. He also highlighted that the governor was a symbol of resistance, that is why they were following him.
“When he came back from exile we were already fed up with the government and we ready for any consequences even if it meant being jailed “he noted.
When Kiraitu came back from exile he became MP for South Imenti as the candidate who was to vie for the seat had to flee to South Africa to avoid persecution by the Moi regime.
The ally noted that the future Governor served as an opposition MP for ten years where he never received any funds as the money was being held by the government.
“There is a time when Kiraitu sold a car even at a point he sold his land as he had finished everything and did not have anything else left to conduct his campaigns."
"Those days, MPs like him used to take food in parliament before embarking back to their homes because they were often denied salaries," Mwendia added.
