By Mangoa Mosota
The shooting started suddenly and stopped a few minutes later. Screaming and wailing followed as bodies slumped to the ground, with bleeding bullet holes.
More than ten bodies were covered with blood and hundreds fled for dear life.
A sunny Saturday afternoon in Kisumu 41 years ago turned into tears after protests and heckling broke out at a public meeting. It was October 25, 1969, when two leading politicians clashed at the lakeside town.
For the first time, a former official of the Kenya People’s Union (KPU) reveals how the country’s first Vice-President, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, was hidden on the rooftop of Russia Hospital (later renamed Nyanza Provincial Hospital).
Mr Odungi Randa chronicles events of the day Jaramogi sparred with friend-turned-foe, the nation’s founding President Jomo Kenyatta.
Randa, 71, who was also Jaramogi’s aide, explains the events on the fateful afternoon, akin to a first-paced action movie.
“I accompanied Jaramogi, his children Raila (now Prime Minister Raila Odinga) and Ruth (Ruth Adhiambo, now a director with Spectre International) to Russia Hospital at around 10am for the ceremony,” he recalls.
Jaramogi's former aide Odungi Randa recalls the incident, this week. Photos: Phillip Orwa And File/ Standard |
Kenyatta was to officially open the facility, funded by the Russian Government, after Jaramogi and his friends had successfully sought financial assistance.
Randa says as local leaders felt it was important for Jaramogi to attend the function.
Kenyatta arrived at the venue a few minutes after 3pm. As soon as Kenyatta sat down, a section of the crowd started shouting, Dume! Dume! (Bull! bull!). This was KPU’s political slogan.
Bitter relationship
Others shouted: “Wapi Mboya? Wapi Mboya? (Where is Mboya?),” in reference to Tom Mboya, who had been assassinated, two months earlier in July 5, 1969.
Mboya was Economic Planning minister and his assassination reportedly aggravated the strained relationship between Kenyatta and Jaramogi.
Randa argues the hecklers wanted to exacerbate the tension, adding that the troublemakers were Kanu supporters.
He adds: “As the shouting continued, the presidential security men opened fire and people scampered for safety.”
At this point, Randa, Jaramogi, his bodyguard Zephaniah Singh Mauji and other aides, whisked the KPU founder into the hospital. They took him up to the facility’s roof through the stairs.
“The shooting continued as we climbed the stairs to the roof of the building. We came down after about 15 minutes later, when calm returned,” he recalls.
Mr Japheth Juma, who was among those present, corroborates Randa revelations.
“Jaramogi was taken to the rooftop. Kenyatta’s security looked at him from the ground, but they did not try to go after him,” reveals Juma, 68.
He says an apparently a drunk man perched on top of a tree to have a glimpse of the function was among those killed.
“He was heckling, and one of the officers shot him and fell off the tree,” says Juma.
Police arrest people for violating a curfew soon after the Kisumu riots on October 25, 1969. |
Then Health Minister JD Otiende gave a short speech before inviting the Head of State. When Kenyatta rose, he immediately started exchanging bitter words with Jaramogi.
Kenyatta said: “Jaramogi, if you were not my friend, I would have crushed you like unga (flour mill). You are rich, while people of Nyanza are starving.”
Jaramogi retorted back: “People are crying because they are hungry. You have not given them what you promised at Independence.”
There was shooting as the presidential motorcade left Kisumu to Kericho, where Kenyatta held an impromptu Cabinet meeting.
“At 9pm, a Voice of Kenya news bulletin announced a curfew in Kisumu. It lasted for over a month. KPU was banned from that night,” says Randa.
A few days later, the curfew was extended to Siaya.
