Raila Odinga was flatteringly referred to as the "enigma in the Kenyan politics" by his posthumous biography. He has continuously held the government of the day in check and has been very instrumental in the Kenyan politics. However, is Raila the father of democracy? Can we credit him to have single handily fought for the increase of democratic space in Kenya? The answer is an emphatic NO. The second liberation was initiated by Njehu Gatabaki, Paul Muite, Kenneth Matiba, Martin Shikuku and James Orengo. The church was well represented in Timothy Njoya. If Njoya is to be mentioned, it's only fair to add; Wangari Mathaai and Koigi wa Wamwere. However it's important to note that Wangari focused her resolve in one major area: Conservation. This men and women fought hard, faced numerous detentions, were beaten and battered and some have their lives to fight for constitutional reforms in Kenya. Today Kenneth Matiba is almost in a vegetative State. He was detained, tortured and denied treatment. As a man suffering from hypertension and due to torture, he had a stroke. He went on to loose almost all of his worldly possesions and his health has continued to deteriorate. Raila Odinga in 1982 plotted and masterminded a Coup de tat which was executed by the Kenyan Airforce a section of Kenyan military airmen. It was thwarted by patriotic soldiers mostly from the Kenya Army Division which formed the major ground forces in The Kenyan Military. Upon the abort of the coup, the airmen were apprehended and subsequently Raila Odinga was arrested too. He was apprehended and detained without trial for about 8 years while all the men from the Kenya Airforce that were involved in the coup were hanged. Raila Odinga, was lucky to escape with his life. After agitation of release of political prisoners led by Koigi Wa Wamwere, Tim Njoya, in company of Shikuku, Orengo, Matiba and Muite; those in detention were released.Upon release, Raila was finally was constantly under very close surveillance by the ruthless state agency: Flying Squad. He got an opportunity to drop his shadow and he fled the country and went on exile. When Gatabaki, Matiba, Orengo & Shikuku started to agitate for pluralism, they fought the regime for almost three year until section 2A was repealed. It was during that time when Kenya was preparing for it's first multiparty elections in 1992 that Raila Odinga came back into the country. He joined a fight that was already being won. As a whistle blower, Raila has been instrumental mostly in the Kibaki's government. In agitation for democracy Orengo, Shikuku, Matiba and Gatabaki stands heads and shoulders above Raila. Gatabaki was the pioneer. When Raila joined, he did well, and fought as hard as the rest. Unfortunately he seems to take most of the glory of this achievement at the expense of other agitators. It's also important to note that Raila's release from detention was fought for by Njoya and Koigi among others. Raila's detention was out of treason and not agitation for democracy. Raila has been instrumental in the democracy of this country, but let's not forget who the actual initiators were and cut them a slack too.

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