Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who passed away in India on the morning of Wednesday, October 15, 2025, after suffering a cardiac arrest, was once a political detainee under the dictatorial KANU regime.
Odinga was first arrested in 1982, after President Daniel arap Moi’s government accused him of participating in the failed coup attempt led by Hezekiah Ochuka.
He was placed under house arrest and later charged with treason, but was detained without trial for six years. Raila was released on February 6, 1988, only to be re-arrested in September of the same year. He was detained again and later released on June 12, 1989, before being re-arrested on July 5, 1990, spending a total of nine years in detention.
On his wife, Ida Odinga’s 70th birthday on August 24, 2020, Raila revealed for the first time how he used to communicate with Ida while in prison, at a time when detainees were denied any contact with their families.
Raila Reveals How He Used to Communicate with Ida
Raila said he would write letters to Ida on toilet paper and smuggle them out through a friendly prison warden, who secretly delivered them to her.
He began communicating with Ida after his health deteriorated in prison, following a wrong medical prescription for high blood pressure.
Also Read: I First Met Raila Odinga in Kamiti Maximum Prison, Gitobu Imanyara Recalls
Raila recounted that he could hardly sleep and constantly heard “the sound of a train moving between Nairobi and Mombasa” inside his head. At the time, he was being held at the Manayani Prison.
Odinga was later transferred to Shimo la Tewa Prison.
“Ida went and found a doctor who prescribed medicine that could help me. She sent the medicine to me through the officer. She even wrote how I was to use the medicine,” Raila narrated.
Ida Recalls Her First Encounter with Jaramogi
However, Raila said he could barely read the letter Ida had sent because of the severe pain he was experiencing. He decided to hide the letter under his bed.
During an impromptu search of the prison cells, officers discovered Ida’s letter, which attracted “severe consequences” for Ida.
“That letter caused Ida a lot of trouble. They looked at the handwriting and insisted it had come officially. That’s how the Nyayo agents came and picked up Ida, taking her to the cells for questioning on how she smuggled the letter. But she never revealed anything,” he said.
Also Read: Life at Times of Raila Odinga: Education Background and Political Career
Speaking during the 30th Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Anniversary in Kisumu, Ida also recalled her first meeting with Jaramogi, Raila’s father. She said Raila had tricked her into believing they were simply going for a ride in Kisumu.
According to Ida, Jaramogi welcomed her warmly and even gave her KSh 200 to buy a soda on her way home, which was considered a generous amount about 50 years ago.
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