Raila stable as leaders unite to wish him well

Friday, 3rd September 2010


By Standard Team


If those who saw Prime Minister Raila Odinga in hospital report, they would simply tell you his grip is back. And indeed when two former Vice-Presidents visited him, he left his bed, stood between them, and swung his hands over their shoulders as his Press crew took pictures.
Visitors reported the PMs radiant smile was returning and he was in a jovial mood despite the admission to hospital.
The doctor’s verdict, too, was that the PM was making good progress, something that made them get him off the drip. "He had a good night and all I can tell Kenyans is that he is recovering fast. We have restricted the number of visitors to ensure he rests," his doctor, David Livingstone Oluoch-Olunya told the country.

Hardly 24 hours after he was operated on the left side of the head to ease pressure on his brain, the PM had a busy day on his bed, talking with those who showed up to wish him well.
They included President Kibaki, who because of his near-fatal accident in 2002 is familiar with the VIP room Raila is admitted to. The President’s handlers shrugged off news crews, including the Head of State’s, and he was with Raila for an hour. He had been to Lanet for a military pass-out parade before making his way back to Nairobi, and to the hospital to see his partner in the Coalition Government – a man he has fought many political battles with, including among themselves, reconciled, and often traded words.

Retired President Moi also sent a get-well-soon message to Raila and wished his family well, too.

The international interest in Raila’s state could be seen from the number of foreign diplomats who went to see him, including US ambassador on Tuesday, and a high-ranking European Union delegation, yesterday.

Though the PM is under doctor’s orders to rest for five days, something that demands tight control of visitors seeing him, the flow of well wishers was constant and in profile, they were Kenya’s movers and shakers.

They included two former Vice Presidents –George Saitoti and Moody Awori. Others were captains of blue chip companies such as Safaricom Managing Director Michael Joseph. The Cabinet, too, was not left out in walking to the PM’s bedside to cheer up, wish the PM well, and see for themselves how their boss was faring on.
Head of European Union delegation in Kenya, Eric van der Linden, said Raila was in a jovial mood and they, too, discussed football.
Former head of proscribed Mungiki Sect Maina Njenga who was accompanied by Raila’s son, Fidel, also walked into the ward and came out saying the PM was in a jovial mood. When Njenga was in prison, Raila sent him the all-time popular read, The 48 Rules of Power.

Those who saw him said Raila wanted to get off the bed and go about his business were it not for the doctor’s orders. Raila checked into the hospital on Monday evening after complaining of a headache and fatigue.

On Tuesday, sources said, family members, relatives, and friends contemplated flying out the Prime Minister to a medical facility where he could get complete rest, away from streams of visitors.

Source: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000012876&cid=4