Raila weeps over neglect of former minister with bullet in his head
Cord leader Raila Odinga has accused the Jubilee government of neglecting former Amagoro MP Fredrick Oduya Oprong, now aged 78.
“For almost 22 years now, Oprong has lived with a bullet lodged in his head after he was shot while on duty yet no help has been forthcoming from government. The previous regime also took his house in Nairobi and yet it was not very expensive,” said Mr Odinga.
He spoke over the weekend after visiting the former Economic Planning and National Development Assistant Minister during the Moi regime in his rural home in Angurai, Teso North Constituency.
BROKE INTO TEARS
At some point, Mr Odinga who was flanked by Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, broke into tears while trying to come into terms with the condition of his late father’s close ally.
The former Assistant Minister is now confined to a wheel chair. He was shot in 1993 at Nairobi’s Mariakani estate while driving home in the evening. He was rushed to Nairobi Hospital and later transferred to a London hospital after his condition deteriorated.
In London, he remained in a coma forcing the doctors to refer him to a hospital in New York where he regained consciousness after three months.
BULLET BEHIND BRAIN
One bullet was removed from his head, while doctors could not attempt to remove the second one that was lodged behind his brain for fear of the risk it had on his life.
According to the wife, that is the bullet that has paralysed her husband for the last 20 years.
The former Prime Minister promised to write a letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta asking him to intervene on the matter.
He said that the Busia county government had agreed to connect electricity to r Oprong’s homestead and the repair the road.
“The Governor has also promised to repair Oprong’s leaking roof. On my side I have also promised to educate some of his children and offer employment to some,” the Cord leader said.
In August this year, Mr Oprong’s family made an appeal to President Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto to end their father’s misery.