Maurice Ogeta, the longtime bodyguard of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has opened up about the softer side of his former boss, revealing a side of the veteran politician that many Kenyans may never have known.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, Ogeta said that while many people knew Raila for his tough political stance and outspoken nature, those who interacted with him closely also experienced his softer side.
“Most people knew the other side of Raila. Fortunately or unfortunately, I would be one of the people who knew the soft side of him,” Ogeta said.
He explained that Raila could speak firmly in public about contentious political issues, including the nusu mkate government and 50/50 power-sharing arrangements, as well as the people around him.
However, according to Ogeta, the former Prime Minister’s private conduct was different from the tough image he projected in politics.
Ogeta added that Raila respected the law and the offices held by other people, even when his political battles made him appear uncompromising.
But it was not always smooth sailing.
The former bodyguard also recalled two occasions when Raila allegedly came close to slapping his driver, suggesting that the veteran politician, like anyone else, had moments when his temper got the better of him.
Ogeta’s revelations offer a glimpse into the private life of a man who dominated Kenya’s political scene for decades.
