- Japheth Muriuki brought the country to a standstill 11 years ago with the ‘Baba While You Were Away’ slogan that shared the problems Kenyans were facing under the then government
- Raila was returning to the country after a three-month break in the USA to a thunderous welcome from his supporters, who followed him from the airport
- On the day of Raila’s burial, Muruki shared that he had lost his wife on the same day Raila died, and she was lying in the morgue
Bondo, Kenya: Japheth Muruki, the man once famed for coming up with the slogan ‘Baba while You Were Away’, has shared that he left his wife in the mortuary to go and bury former prime minister Raila Odinga.
Source: Facebook
Over 11 years ago, Japheth came up with the phrase ‘Baba While You Were Away’ when the then CORD leader Raila Odinga returned from the USA, where he had gone for a three-month political sabbatical.
At the time, Japheth was lamenting that Nairobi governor Evans Kidero had been chased away, among other ills by the government of the day.
“I called him Baba because he was the father of democracy and saving the country,” said Muruki, who had also gone to court seeking orders to let baba’s supporters welcome him back to the country in peace.
On his return, Raila was met by a multitude of people and escorted to the heart of Nairobi by a heavy entourage of his supporters who had a list of grievances of how the country was being run badly.
Although he fought so hard to see Raila get a grand welcome from his political sabbatical, he was surprised when ODM leaders failed to allow him anywhere near Raila Odinga.
Source: Facebook
Why did Muruki touch Kenyans?
Fast forward years later, Muruki arrived in Bondo bright and early to bury the man he admired so much, and when he reached there, only that he was hurting twice as much as other mourners who had arrived for the same.
“I have voted for Raila six times; he is my friend, business associate and political mentor. My wife died on the same day as baba and I will be burying my wife on November 7,” he said.
“What he had started and was yet to finish we will do it for him and ensure that his legacy lives on. We will ensure that human rights, and economic liberation are kept to the letter,” he added.
Muruki was not the only one who pulled all stops to arrive for Raila’s burial, as some people had been blocked from getting to the avenue.
“We walked and thank God we were agile enough to walk to the venue to bury our beloved Raila,” said Angelica.
Mourners wail as Raila’s casket leaves for burial
Another story revealed that thousands of people gathered at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology started wailing as Raila’s body was being taken for burial at his home.
Some mourners also expressed their sorrow through tears, wails, as well as prayers offered on behalf of the departed and his family.
The emotional scenes captured the deep connection between Raila and his people and marked the end of a political era.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
