A former police officer has narrated how his support and loyalty to Kenya's first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga made him languish in poverty.
Solomon Mulang'a, who first served in President Jomo Kenyatta's security detail, was a close friend of Mr Odinga before he was unceremoniously dismissed from the service because of the relationship he had with the VP.
Recounting his ordeal to the Standard, Mr Mulang'a divulged that trouble began after he was transferred to be Jaramogi's bodyguard following a request he sent to his boss.
"Kenyatta's day started early and the old man was often up and about in the farm by 5 am. I had to leave our camp in Muthaiga by 4.30 am and return late, which I thought was unfair to my wife and young son," Mulang'a said.
The 78-year-old stated that his friendship to Mr Odinga was put to test by Kenya's first African Commissioner of Police Bernard Hinga, who wanted him to betray the then Opposition leader, by disclosing details of a meeting he had with former Uganda President Milton Obote.
"I had been recalled to general duties from Jaramogi Odinga's escort detail after he formed the opposition party, Kenya Peoples Union (KPU), when one day I was told that Mr Hinga wanted to see me at his office in Gill House, I froze literally.
"He told me he had heard that Mr Odinga and I enjoyed a deep relationship. After a pause, he looked me straight in the eye and said he wanted me to tell him what Mr Odinga and Ugandan President talked about when the two leaders met at the Rock Hotel in Jinja," Mulang'a narrated.
He noted that he tried to tell Hinga he was not present during the meeting and only waited for the Vice President outside, but the police boss did not want to hear any of that.
"My conscience could not allow me to betray Jaramogi who had treated me well for the three years that I had been with him," he said.
Mulang'a mentioned that after his hard stance, Mr Hinga forced him to write a resignation letter and ordered him to go back to his rural home, Kitui, and never venture into anything for five years.
He further disclosed that the police commissioner would send officers every three months to spy on him just to confirm he was not engaging in any activities.
The former officer stated that those were the hardest times of his life as he was unable to pay school fees for his only son.
"I almost failed to educate our only son who looks after us today," Mulang'a said.
After the five years, Mulang'a sought for a security guard job with Securicor guard where he was paid Sh800. The amount helped him to pay school fees for his child.
A round shack with mud walls is the only asset the 78-year-old has to show for his service at the police force.
His wife, painfully recalled their predicament stating: "Those were truly difficult days. We dug for people in their shamba to get money for food. We became the laughing stock of the village. May God rest Hinga's soul in peace."
