MUSILA: How I hid Kibaki in a store during the 1982 attempted coup

 Kenyans of all walks of life continued to throng the Parliament of Kenya buildings in Nairobi for a second day on Tuesday to pay their last respect to the fallen President Emilio Mwai Kibaki whose body lay in state. 

The former President of Kenya breathed his last on Friday, April 22,2022 aged 90 years.

Among notable personalities who viewed Mr Kibaki’s body was former Kitui Senator David Musila who served under Kibaki both when he was a Vice President and during his two-term tenure as President.

Musila who spoke during a short interview with Citizen TV’s Nimrod Taabu at Parliament remembered Kibaki by revealing memories of the flopped 1982 coup.  Then, Musila was serving as the Provincial Commissioner for Central Province, the home tuff for the late Kibaki.

According to Musila when hell broke loose after the Airforce soldiers declared live at KBC Radio then VoK (Voice of Kenya) that they had overthrown government of President Daniel Arap Moi, he hatched a plan to hide Kibaki who was then at his Othaya home. “He was at his home. I organized for a security detail and together went to pick him and hid him in a store at Nyeri Club till morning the following day,” he said.

Cabinet meeting

When the situation calmed, with a contingency of security officers, the escorted Mr. Kibaki to State House Nairobi for a Cabinet meeting.  

This is the second time Musila is coming out to publicly to describe how he saved Mr. Kibaki at a time the country was engulfed in a cloud of tension and anxiety.  In his memoir ‘Seasons of Hope’, Musila revealed how amid shock he moved with speed to secure his boss at a time the country was in turmoil.

Musila joined other leaders in mourning the late President describing him not only as his former boss but a close friend with whom he had a very cordial relationship for decades.

The former Mwingi South MP also recalled how he took Kibaki to hospital after the grisly road accident in 2002 at Kyumbi junction on their way from a campaign in Ukambani.

Musila commonly known as Bwana Meko by his supporters served as the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly during the Narc government regime between 2003 and 2007. He was later appointed to serve as an Assistant Minister of Defence during the Grand Coalition Government.

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT