A Legacy of Leadership and Loyalty
Former Nyali MP Hezron Awiti Bolo has expressed his belief that Mombasa politics will never be the same again following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Awiti, who credits Raila with mentoring him into the world of politics, believes the Luo nation will face challenges in finding a suitable replacement for the late leader. However, he urges the Luo community to remain united in honor of Raila’s legacy.
“Raila trained so many people. He mentored us. After the burial, there will be a lot of changes. But we will remain united because of his legacy. There will be a lot of struggles after his death, but the Luo nation will not split. It will remain united,” Awiti said.
Awiti emphasized that Raila was always against military rule, stating that Kenya cannot afford such a scenario. Their relationship began over 40 years ago when Awiti first met Raila at a Mombasa hotel, where they were introduced by Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
“It was at Outrigger Hotel in Ganjoni. His father was a very good friend of mine, and I did some jobs for him. So one evening after work, he came with Siaya Governor James Orengo, and his father introduced him to me,” he recalled.
At the time, Awiti was about 25 years old and working as an intelligence officer for former powerful PS Hezekiah Oyugi. He described Raila as someone who spoke passionately about human rights and democracy during a time when the Moi regime was tightening its grip after the failed 1982 coup.
“I hated politics at that time because you could not speak your mind out. I had decided I would just do my business in peace devoid of all the political noise around,” Awiti told the Star.
He even had a poster in his office that read “Simba but no politics.” However, a deep conversation with Raila changed his perspective. “He told me, ‘Yes, you are Simba in business, but without politics, you will not be able to do business. Business goes with politics because politics makes policies,’” Awiti recalled.
This bond grew, and they would meet regularly at Awiti’s Mamba Village establishment in Mombasa. During this time, the Kanu regime was cracking down on those perceived as opposing its establishment, and Raila was one of the marked men.
A strange visit in the early hours of the morning jolted Awiti and made him realize the cruelty of the regime. “Former minister Nicholas Biwott surprised me with a visit very early in the morning at my house in Nyali. He was in the company of about five armed men, and it was the first time I met Biwott personally,” Awiti said.
Biwott asked him where Raila was, and Awiti was taken to State House Mombasa and questioned by security men. When he refused to divulge information, he was sent to meet Moi himself. “I told them Raila was my relative and friend, and we just catch up at Mamba Village whenever he comes to Mombasa. I can’t stop him from visiting me,” Awiti explained.
The interrogation lasted more than nine hours, and he was released with a threat to find out where Raila was or face dire consequences. After his release, he contacted Raila and explained the ordeal. “What he told me shocked me and sent chills down my spine. He told me he will not go to meet Moi and will not talk to anybody other than wananchi. He said if they wanted him, they knew where to find him,” Awiti said.
Biwott had told him that Raila was to be offered a Prime Minister position, but Raila dismissed it, saying Biwott had no authority to do that. Since then, Awiti and Raila became close friends, and Raila assured him he would not be killed because of their association.
Awiti, along with former Mombasa councilor the late Okoth Waudi, became Raila’s men in Mombasa and the Coast, coordinating things for him and campaigning for his election during electioneering years. Raila valued their courage to openly associate with him at a time when people feared repercussions from the Moi regime.
“It was not easy. I was attacked in my office, and one of my bodyguards was shot dead. I escaped death that time. I was frequently attacked even during the Kibaki time,” he said.
Raila encouraged Awiti to stand alone and make his own name, not depend on Raila. “We worked together, popularized ODM in Mombasa and at the Coast. When I expressed interest in becoming Nyali MP, he encouraged me,” he said.
Awiti later quit ODM when he learned of a plan to rig him out of nominations. “I consulted Raila, and he was the one who encouraged me to join Wiper. That day we were with him and Mama Ida in his PM office. In fact, he called Kalonzo and asked him to make sure I got the Wiper certificate to vie for Nyali,” Awiti revealed.
He won the Nyali MP seat through Wiper in 2013. “He mentored me in politics and in business,” Awiti said.
About a month ago, Awiti talked with Raila, and the enigma asked him to be ready to either merge his VDP party with ODM or work together. Awiti had asked Raila to find a place for him in government. “He told me, ‘Awiti, ODM is big, and there are few slots. There are things you have to sacrifice to get. Since you are not in my party, you can’t get it. I have to give my party people first.’”
Raila proposed a chairman position of some parastatal, but Awiti refused, saying it was too small for him. He also cannot run for MP again because it would interfere with his business operations. “We cracked a joke saying he was a party leader and I was a party leader, so when he is to give me a cake, it had to be a big cake,” Awiti said laughing.
They had arranged for a meeting in Mombasa. “Raila is not dead. His body may be dead, but his spirit is alive,” Awiti said.
