Raila: How I Used Toilet Paper to Save Kenneth Matiba’s Life While We Were Detained

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has opened up on how he saved the life of the late second liberation hero Kenneth Matiba when they were both in detention in 1990.

Speaking during the funeral service of Matiba at Ihura Stadium in Murang’a County on Thursday, Odinga said that Matiba suffered a stroke while being detained at Kamiti Maximum Prison, but was denied treatment.

A prison officer by the name Mwangi informed Odinga that Matiba’s health was deteriorating, forcing him (Odinga) to secretly send a message to Matiba’s wife, Edith, written in a toilet paper. The two were being locked up in different cells, but they were being attended to by the same doctors and guards, Raila said.

“Mwangi came and told me, ‘Mheshimiwa your friend is sick. These days he is very dull, he is not talking, he just says he is in pain. Doctors have examined him but they are saying he is pretending but they themselves believe he is sick,’” Odinga recounted.

“When I heard this, I used a toilet paper to write to Ida (his wife) telling her to inform Edith (Matiba’s wife) that Ken is sick. That askari, a Kenyan patriot who is now retired, is the one who took that note to Ida and that is how Ida informed Edith that Ken is sick.”

It was until the government learnt that Matiba’s family had been reached by news of his illness that it took him to hospital and booked him for treatment as a Mr. Muchiri.

“I am saying this because I believe strongly that what caused the stroke in Matiba was preventable. If action would have been taken early Matiba would not have suffered a stroke,” said Odinga.

Matiba will be cremated on Friday at a private event to be held at the Langa’ta Crematorium in Nairobi.