Document #1118945
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Charles Njonjo was Constitutional Affairs
Minister in 1987, being the object that year of an enquiry
conducted by Chief Justice Sir James Wicks, concerning his period
in office. Justice Wicks resigned and was replaced by Channi Madan,
who later resigned, too. This occurred in the context of a scandal
referred to as the "Njonjo affair", described in detail in the
attached article "The Asian dilemma", in Africa
Confidential, 24 June 1987, pp. 5-7. The same article describes
Njonjo as Kenyan President Moi's arch-rival ( p. 5). Friends of
Njonjo reportedly financed the political campaign of Job Omino for
last year's elections, reportedly for fear that the other
contenders could threaten the interests of the Kikuyu. [
Ibid.]
Raila Odinga is the son of Oginga Odinga, former vicepresi-
dent of Kenya and former leader of the Kenya People's Union (KPU),
a political party, which he founded in 1966. Oginga Odinga has been
barred by the Kenyan government from engaging in politics. [ Africa
Research Bulletin, 15 October 1988, p. 9009.] Raila Odinga was
arrested in 1983 on charges of treason, after a failed coup
attempt, and held in detention until 1988. During this time, he was
adopted by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience. [
Kenya: Torture, Political Detention and Unfair
Trials, (London: Amnesty International, July 1987), p. 2.]
Reported as the country's longest-standing political prisoner, he
was released, together with nine other political prisoners, in
early February of 1988. [ Africa Research Bulletin, (London,
Africa Research, Limited), 15 March 1988, p.8788.] Raila Odinga was
the managing director of East Africa Spectrum, a cooking gas
cylinder manufacturing company owned by Oginga Odinga, [Africa
Research Bulletin, 15 February 1989, p. 9148.] when he was re-
arrested by plain-clothes policemen. Since his re-arrest on
August 30, 1988, he has been held in indefinite detention. Africa
Research Bulletin, 15 October 1988, p. 9009.] No reports of his
present situation could be found among the sources
presently available at the IRBDC.
For additional information on Charles Njonjo and Raila Odinga,
please see the attached copies of the following documents:
-"The Asian dilemma", in Africa
Confidential, 24 June 1987, pp.5-7.
-"Moi and the KANU Barons", in Africa
Confidential, 17 February 1989, pp. 6 and 7.
- Kenya: Torture, Political Detention
and Unfair Trials,
(London: Amnesty International, July 1987), p. 2.
-Africa Research Bulletin, 15 March
1988, p. 8788; 15 October 1988, p. 9009.
-"Coup, Contenders & Caprice", in
Africa Events, October 1988, pp. 30-32.