Take this flame forward, former Prime Minister Raila tells youth as Olesugon Obasanjo calls for memoirs

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga while launching his autobiography. Left is Chief Guest during the launch, former Nigerian President Olesugon Obasanjo. [Photo: Kibera Mbugua/Standard]

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga Sunday launched his 959 page autobiography which he says is dedicated to the country’s youths.

“I have dedicated the book to the youths of Kenya; youths are like a constant river that flows to the ocean,” Raila said during the launch of the book titled The Fame of Freedom.

He too, says the book is dedicated to the dream of Pan Africa which has been derailed by poverty, ignorance, disease and bad governance.

“But it’s my belief that-like the mighty River Nile as it journeys from its sources in Lake Victoria and the Abyssinian highlands , down through the lands of Sahara Desert towards its final destination in the blue waters of the Mediterranean sea-the African march to prosperity and stability is unstoppable,’ a excerpt from the book reads on page 958.

The ex-premier’s book chronicles his time from childhood to the time the served as Prime Minister of Kenya under the grand coalition.

Ironically, although the book was published after the last general election that he lost to arch-rival Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila does not dwell much into events that surrounded the formation of Cord and the struggle to overturn Uhuru’s win at the Supreme Court, only hinting that “Cord ultimate fortunate, would frame a story for the future.   

Chief Guest during the launch, former Nigerian President Olesugon Obasanjo hailed the Ex-PM for writing up the book and encouraged other prominent persons in Kenya to emulate him.

Obasanjo particularly encouraged, former Attorney General Charles Njonjo who had spoken before him to rescind his decision and write a book for posterity.

While speaking, the octogenarian Njonjo said unlike Raila, he has no plans to write either a biography or autobiography detailing his public life.

“You deprive the future generation a lot when you refuse to write a book, it’s good to do it for posterity,” he said while giving an example of Nigeria’s first African AG who refused to author a book.

Obasanjo paid a glowing tribute to Raila, whom he said had sacrificed a lot in his life to ensure the country’s enjoys freedom whose culmination was the successful promulgation of the new constitution.

“I say leadership is like love, it can’t succeed without sacrifice. Any leadership that lacks sacrifice is not worthy being called leadership,” the former Nigerian leader added.

Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, who was Raila’s running mate in the last elections, described the Cord leader as a tolerant leader who had suffered a lot for the benefit of all while Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero described Raila as a missionary of reforms.

“I know of nobody in this country who has the ability to tolerate injustice like Raila. He has had his victory stolen twice and yet tolerated it. History will judge him right,” Kalonzo added.

Former Nairobi mayor George Aladwa praised the book launch saying it will open the lid of the opposition leader’s life for all Kenyans to understand him.

“This book lays bare the life and times of Raila, a man whom many seem to misunderstand but those who will read it will realise that Raila has sacrificed enough for the country,” Aladwa added.

Raila Odinga Junior moved the audience when he said how as a young boy, he only came to meet his father for the first time at the age of nine years when he was released from prison.

“I used to hear about him from my siblings and relatives and at time see his photos. I saw him for the first time when he came home at Kenya High with the media in tow and then knew who the bearded man who was hugging me was,” Raila Jnr added.

Caroline Wahome, daughter of late humourist and author Wahome Mutahi, encourage the youth to take up their place in national development.

In one of the excerpts, Raila revisits the day retired President Mwai Kibaki nominated albeit, unilaterally, Chief Justice, Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions which he opposed with Kibaki being forced to withdraw the names following a ruling by then house speaker Kenneth Marende who ruled that the nominations were unconstitutional.

“I fell to the Speaker to make a ruling on the matter, which he did against Kibaki. There was heated discussion in parliament and Uhuru’s anger at being thwarted led to one of his famous table-banging episodes. Kibaki was forced to retract the appointments. For this part in the matter Kenneth Marende was never forgiven by the PNU side and he would have no chance of retaining his seat in 2013.”