Raila Odinga Reveals Retired Catholic Bishop’s Role in His 1991 Escape to Uganda

Summary:

• Azimio leader Raila Odinga has disclosed that retired Catholic Bishop Zacchaeus Okoth played a key role in helping him escape to Uganda in 1991 during his exile by the KANU government. Odinga, who visited Bishop Okoth in the hospital, expressed gratitude for the cleric’s assistance. Disguised as a Catholic priest, Odinga was smuggled from Nairobi to Uganda and then fled to Norway.

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Azimio leader Raila Odinga has revealed that retired Catholic Bishop Zacchaeus Okoth played a pivotal role in helping him escape to Uganda during his exile by the KANU government in 1991. In a heartfelt post shared after visiting Bishop Okoth in the hospital, Odinga expressed his gratitude for the cleric’s crucial assistance.

Bishop Okoth, who was the Archbishop of Kisumu at the time, facilitated Odinga’s safe passage from Kenya. Appointed Bishop of Kisumu on February 27, 1978, and later Archbishop when Kisumu was elevated to an archdiocese in 1990, Okoth’s support was instrumental in Odinga’s escape.

“I visited Archbishop Emeritus Zacchaeus Okoth, who is currently hospitalized, to wish him a speedy recovery. He selflessly enabled my passage to Uganda and ultimate exile during difficult times, and I remain grateful,” stated Raila.

In 1991, Odinga fled to Uganda after receiving intelligence that the KANU regime was targeting him for his leadership in the push for multiparty politics. Disguised on several occasions as a Catholic priest and a Legio Maria adherent, Odinga was smuggled out of Nairobi to Kisumu, then to Rang’ala in Ugenya, and finally into Uganda. He was later ferried across Lake Victoria by fishermen, ultimately escaping to Norway for political exile.

One of the fishermen who helped Odinga, Mr. Njura, confirmed the disguise and Odinga’s exit during an interview. “He was dressed like a Legio Maria adherent. All alone. You know, at the lake fishermen believe in so many things. What crossed my mind when I saw this stranger was that perhaps the boss had invited him to pray for us before we embarked on our journey,” Njura recounted.

Media reports claimed that the Moi regime had allegedly planned to cause grievous harm to Odinga after several detentions failed to deter him from advocating for multipartyism.

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