Raila fit as fiddle

Prime Minister Raila Odinga left his hospital bed, walked with his usual gentleman’s gait, and waved at those waiting to receive him. Standing next to him were two familiar faces: his wife Ida and one of Kenya’s top cardiologists — Dr Dan Gikonyo — under whom President Kibaki was put after the near-fatal road accident in 2002.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga plants a symbolic tree outside Nairobi Hospital after discharge on Sunday as aides and well-wishers watch. Conspicuous in this picture is Kenya’s famed cardiologist Dan Gikonyo, with a stethoscope around his neck. Picture: Mbugua Kibera/Standard


Raila thanked his doctors, wife and Kenyans for their support in the period he described as difficult, as well as God for seeing him through it. With stethoscope, which doctors use to listen to the thump of the heart and purr of lungs as well as to determine such vital signs as heartbeat, slung over his neck, Dr Gikonyo kept Raila under his trained eye. It never veered off him even as he planted a tree outside Nairobi Hospital.

The cardiologist’s presence seemed to point at the fact his medical management had moved from that of a neurosurgeon — who is a specialist on disorders affecting the nervous system — which includes the brain, spinal cord and nerves — to a cardiologist.

On admission the PM was under Dr David Livingstone Oluoch-Olunya, the respected neurosurgeon who told the country the Orange Democratic Movement leader was suffering from chronic subdural haematoma. According to medical sources brain clots account for nearly 90 per cent of stroke-related cases.

Spitting image

Heart conditions, medical sources who have not seen Raila say, heart disorders often are responsible for blood clots, which could explain Dr Gikonyo’s presence by Raila’s side on Sunday.

Raila rushed to hospital after experiencing headache, which is one of the warning signs of brain clot. Other signs, which for now are not clear whether Raila felt or reported, could include numbness in the face, dizziness, loss of balance and even outward show of oxygen cut-off from the brain.

Though Raila needed a little support and nudging to climb a wooden platform to the green patch where he planted the tree, he exhibited the spitting image of a man on the rebound, happy to free and raring to rejoin the ‘Yes’ campaign trail.

Looking at him, the message radiating from his brave face, a week after the left side of his head was opened up to ease pressure in his brain, seemed to suggest here was a man who was down but not out... and who would soon be blazing the trail.

This image was further reinforced by his analogy of a football match that has to continue even when one of the key players has been injured.

There was also little to show the man associated with high-octane politics, unsurpassed political energy, and hyper-active spirit, has been slowed down by his condition. "I am as fit as a fiddle," Raila told journalists at his Karen home four hours after he left hospital.

"I want to thank the doctors (Dr Macharia, Dr Oluoch-Olunya, Dr Ombati and Dr Gikonyo) who have treated me under the difficult circumstances. I want also to thank God for making me whole again. I also thank Kenyans who have prayed for me," said the PM after he strode out of hospital confinement where it has almost been impossible to stop the flow of VIP visitors turning up to see him.

"Finally, I want to thank my wife, Ida, who has been with me during this difficult time," added the PM.

On his head perched was a cap, which though meant to camouflage the incision doctors made on his head, whose shape and usage is associated with his late father, the doyen of Opposition politics Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

Resume duty

Raila expressed confidence his ‘Yes’ team would sweep the victory in the August 4 referendum, and put the margin at 70 per cent in favour of the ‘Greens’. He pointed out his absence had not affected ‘Yes’ campaign.

He, however, revealed he would not hit the road soon because doctors advised him to rest for a couple of days and resume full duty after two weeks. His wife was again with him here, daughter Winnie, son Fidel and Victoria — Fidel’s wife and PM’s daughter in-law.

"I am okay. The doctors have given me a clean bill of health and said I need to recuperate for a few more days before I resume my duties," he went on.

As debate on the proposed law heats up, he struck a conciliatory note and asked Kenyans avoid violence irrespective of which side they support. "Even as we campaign, those saying ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ are all Kenyans and after August 4, Kenya will still remain," he advised.

"I have no doubt in my mind that the ‘Yes’ team is going to win and the win will be resounding," said the PM.

He also revealed he had had a wonderful discussion with President Kibaki and agreed that both sides of the campaigns must be protected.

He likened his absence to that of President Kibaki in 2002, when he was involved in an accident in the thick of the December campaigns and was hospitalised.

As the National Rainbow Coalition supporters stood stunned, awed and shocked, Raila stepped out and declared the game would go on even though the ‘Captain’ had momentarily stepped aside.

"I liken it to 2002 when we were campaigning for our captain. I told them our captain was injured but the game had to continue," he explained.

"I don’t think my absence has affected the campaigns, we are a team, so even if one player is injured, the rest continue playing," he said from his manicured lawn and the comfort of his family.

On the coverage of his health, he commended the media acting responsibly, pointing out he gave instructions for full disclosure of his health. He, however, said there were no German doctors flown, as was claimed by a local daily (not The Standard).

Raila also criticised a plan by MPs to increase their salaries terming it, "unfair and sending the wrong signals to the country…I am totally against the idea of MPs arbitrarily increasing their salaries," he said.

He pointed out there was procedure to be followed and such an increase can only be enjoyed by the coming Parliament.

Ghana loss

On his favourite game, which in his youth saw him play for a national team, the PM said he was saddened by the death of four Kenyans on the night Ghana played Uruguay, but called for an overhaul of the Sports management in the country to ensure Kenya also qualifies for the World Cup.

He also mourned Ghana’s loss and blamed the referee for denying the African team a goal. "I blame the referee because somebody blocked the ball using his hands … that was a goal. Ghana was robbed of victory," he said but pointed out that he was thrilled by the German 4-0 rout of Argentina.

Sports Minister Prof Hellen Sambili and her husband, who is the Planning PS Dr Edward Sambili, visited his Karen home.