I hid Kibaki in a store during 1982 attempted coup - Musila

 

Leaders on Tuesday continued to pay tribute to the late retired President Mwai Kibaki as his body lay in state at Parliament Buildings for the second day.

The leaders recalled their times with the third president of Kenya since the inception of his political career as the Member of Parliament for Donholm Constituency, the current Makadara Constituency.

Former Kitui senator and assistant minister under the Kibaki administration, David Musila, recalled his time with the late president while serving as the Central Provincial Commissioner.

"He was my boss as the Vice President and we became close friends until his demise. We did a lot of work together... Held harambees for youth and women and so forth," Musila said.

He said during the 1982 attempted coup, when Kibaki was the vice president, he was responsible for the late president's security.

"He was at his home in Othaya and I'm the one who arranged the security that went to pick him up and I came and hid him somewhere," Musila said during an interview with Citizen TV at Parliament Buildings. 

"I hid him in a store at Nyeri Club until the following day when the coup attempt was over and I escorted him to State House for a Cabinet meeting," Musila said.

He further revealed that when Kibaki had an accident in the run-up to the 2002 general election at the Machakos junction, he was the one who pulled him out of the ditch and took him to hospital.

"We found Dr Gikonyo waiting for us. My history with Kibaki is long, part of which I have documented in my book titled Seasons of Hope," Musila said.

Doctor Dan Gikonyo was late President Mwai Kibaki's physician and personal doctor.

Musila said after the 2002 elections, Kibaki helped him become the deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, a position he held for five years.

He said Kibaki became his advisor and he likewise advised him on national issues based on mutual trust.

Musila said Kibaki later named him an assistant minister during his second term in the grand coalition government which he ran together with Raila Odinga as the Prime Minister. 

"We were such good friends so much that he called me and said David, I would like to make you a minister but I have given most cabinet positions to Raila so what is left is little."

Musila said he told Kibaki he would like to be the assistant minister of Interior and that is what Kibaki gave him.

"My family and I have been praying for him as close family friends and may he rest in peace," Musila said.    BY THE STAR