The friendship of former President Jomo Kenyatta and first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga dates many years back even before their reunion in 1963.
Jaramogi, then at loggerheads with the British, accused first Finance minister James Gichuru and Tom Mboya of working with British to have Mzee Kenyatta locked permanently.
The British were of the opinion that Gichuru takes over as President when Kenya attained independence due to Jomo's affiliation with Mau Mau and Jaramogi's radical approach.
In October 1960, after meeting him and Mboya in London, the Colonial Secretary wrote: “I liked him a good deal and he seems to me the most hopeful African leader in Kenya I have met.”
In response, Governor Renison wrote: “We shall have to see whether Gichuru can stay permanently on top in spite of the greater political and world experience of Mboya.”
After learning about the meeting, Jaramogi, in partnership with Dr Njoroge Mungai, started a smear campaign accusing Gichuru and Mboya of conspiring against Jomo.
But Gichuru, a dull politician known for his love for the bottle, suspended Jaramogi from KANU weeks to party elections. This necessitated disciplinary hearing which saw Gichuru accuse Jaramogi of sabotage.
"Not long ago, although he denied it then, Mr Odinga’s office distributed a document which stated that the Secretary-General of Kanu and myself were parties to a secret document aimed at extending the restriction of my leader, Jomo Kenyatta.”
“What is wrong with our Jaramogi?” he asked. “Does he want to exchange his proud title for Ja Russia (Russian) or something else?” Mboya followed with a prepared speech in English lasting around 15 minutes, which he later translated into Kiswahili himself.
But after heated exchanges, the three were kicked out of the room to allow the committee make a decision.
However, when they were recalled to the room, James Gichuru was reportedly intoxicated and could not utter a single word. The committee ended up clearing Jaramogi.
Gichuru would later cede his seat to Jomo Kenyatta. He died in 1982, over 13 years after the assassination of Mboya. Jaramogi died in 1994 due to old age.