Raila recalls moments of Nyachae ‘betrayal’

ODM leader Raila Odinga yesterday recounted his dramatic fallout with the late Simeon Nyachae in the run-up to the 2002 General Election.

Speaking during the requiem mass for the late powerful Cabinet minister, Raila traced the fallout to his last-minute decision to endorse Mwai Kibaki, as the united opposition’s presidential candidate during a historic political rally at Uhuru Park in September, 2002.

“We started the Rainbow Coalition together, he came with Ford People while we had broken up with Kanu to join hands with NAK then headed by Mwai Kibaki.

We formed a coalition together because they had negotiated with the late Job Omino, however when we teamed up with NAK, we had an issue with him.

When I said Kibaki Tosha, this did not go well with Simeon,” Raila told the mourners, adding that the late Nyachae would go on to repeatedly remind him that he (Raila) had betrayed him.

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Raila retraced the relationship between the Jaramogi and Nyachae families from the days of their fathers, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Musa Nyandusi respectively. 

He told the gathering at the SDA Maxwell Church that it was his father Jaramogi who appointed Nyachae as a District Commissioner when he served as the Minister for Home affairs under Mzee Jomo Kenyatta regime.

“A lot of things have been said about Simeon but there was that human part of him, he was compassionate with a lot of efficiency. He helped many Kenyans to acquire education,” said Raila.

“We are saying goodbye to a great patriot,” he added.

In a recent interview, Nyachae’s long serving confidante, James Kenani revealed how the former Cabinet minister found it difficult to forgive Raila after their 2002 dramatic fallout.

Leaders who attended the mass paid glowing tribute to the Nyachae with speaker after another, including his widows Martha, Grace, his sons, daughters and grandchildren, eulogising him as a great patriarch whose generosity knew no boundaries. In particular, his children lit up the service with tales of their father’s legendary disciplinary measures.

“If we underperformed, you didn’t hold back,” Maragia Nyachae said.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, described Nyachae as a great Kenyan whose contribution to the nation spanned many decades and inspired many Kenyans.

Uhuru said Kenya prides itself in the late Nyachae’s leadership, compassion and determination.

“Even in death, Mzee Nyachae stands tall, among dedicated patriots of the country,” the President said in a speech read on his behalf  by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe.

“His service to Kenya, was characterised by utmost integrity, rare zeal and commitment to duty that earned him accolades in three successive administrations,” the President added.

On a personal level, uhuru recalled how he (Nyachae) always had wise words for him whenever he sought advice.

“His impact in my life shall never be lost, just like his vision for this country, shall never be forgotten,” he said.

ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, who served in the same Cabinet with Nyachae eulogised him as a man who stood for merit and never believed in short cuts.

“When he was Chief Secretary and Head of Civil Service, Cabinet Ministers used to address him as Sir, since he carried a lot of dignity with him,” he said.

“As a politician, I had many encounters with him. He was a man who loved his culture, he was a good man who stood with his family and friends,” he added.

Musalia explained that Nyachae was like an elder brother since he was young in that Cabinet when he served as Finance Minister with the latter in the Agriculture docket.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka described Nyachae as a towering figure physically and intellectually: “He was a go getter with a very strong personality and had no time for anything that he did not consider professional.” 

On his part, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i was grateful that he had the privilege to work closely with Nyachae  to the extent of being called ‘son’.

“Everything except biology, I am mzee Nyachae’s son. He raised me and I spent time and travelled with him, probably, two-thirds of the impact he made in my life cannot be verbalised,” he said.

Council of Governors Chairman Governor Martin Wambora eulogised Nyachae as a person whose rich legacy will remain embedded in the history of Kenya.