It has now emerged that Opposition leader Raila Odinga was in secret communication with the CORD and Jubilee politicians who were held up at Pangani Police Station over hate speech remarks.
The six legislators reportedly managed to keep in touch with the outside world through a 'Mulika Mwizi' phone that was sneaked into the cells.
"With the 'Mulika Mwizi' phone, we managed to speak with our families, CORD leaders Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula," said Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire, who noted that though the gadget was a basic and unsophisticated one, it helped them a lot.
While in the filthy Pangani cells, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria indicated that he had a cordial telephone conversation with the former Prime Minister and agreed they would meet for a meal of fish once he (Kuria) was out of detention.
“Raila requested if I could join him for a meal of fish once we are released. I accepted though with a minor condition — that he assures me my favourite vegetable ‘Osuga’ will be in plenty, which he committed himself to. I will hold him to his word,” the Standard quotes Mr Kuria.
“I spoke with him, more than once and we promised each other than we would interact more when I’m released.”
Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri is also said to have communicated with the CORD leader, via the 'Mulika Mwizi', and expressed that he did not mind attending a rally graced by Raila to show the need for peaceful coexistence.
In a separate interview, one of the lawmakers held at Pangani revealed that they pulled resources together and purchased the said phone at Sh3,000, then had it smuggled into their cell.
While the four-day stint at the Pangani Cell 4 has been described as torturous for the lawmakers, it also provided an opportunity for the six political rivals to settle their differences as well as discuss the political agenda from a common ground.
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The eight politicians — Johnstone Muthama, Junnet Mohammed, Timothy Bosire, Moses Kuria, Kimani Ngunjiri, Ferdinand Waititu, Aisha Jumwa and Florence Mutua — were arrested on Tuesday and kept in the police cells until Friday when they were released on bond.
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