[Raila Odinga in a past event. He literally wept when he mentioned his comrade in struggle, George Anyona in Mashujaa Day rally. Photo/Nation]
For few minutes in Kisumu on Friday, opposition leader Raila Odinga literally wept when he mentioned one of his role model, who suffered with him in jail during his detention in 80s.
Being Mashujaa Day, Odinga took to podium and hailed a number of independence and post-independence fighters but the name of George Anyona moved his heart.
Moments after regaining, Odinga labeled Anyona ‘fearless warrior’ adding that should he have been alive, ‘things would be different’.
“It is such a great day when we remember Martin Shikuku, Jaramogi Oginga, Jomo Kenyatta and even George Anyona,” he said, amid cheers from his supporters.
“Anyona was such a fearless warrior who put the rights of people first. If he was alive today, maybe things would have been different.”
While Odinga only faced the wrath during Daniel Moi’s regime, Anyona, a former Kitutu Masaba MP served six detentions under both Moi and Jomo Kenyatta.
In 90s, he was one of the crusaders of pluralism along with Odinga and died in 2003 after serving as MP for 14 years. He is remembered for being one of the ‘notorious’ seven bearded sisters member.