Miguna's book on Raila to be out in June

A controversial book on Prime Minister Raila Odinga authored by his former adviser is expected to released in June.

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statement from UK’s Gilgamesh Publishing Ltd said the book-Peeling Back the Mask, by Miguna Miguna will be published on June 30.

The book will later be launched in Kenya with a subsequent international launch in London in October.

Mr Miguna was suspended by Mr Odinga in August last year for gross misconduct.

In his book, Mr Miguna explains why he rejected the PM’s subsequent offer of reinstatement and exposes Mr Odinga's alleged lacklustre leadership questioning his reformist credentials and claims that he is an agent of change.

“Peeling Back the Mask presents a true insider's account of the intrigues, discussions and power plays that have occurred in Kenya's corridors of power in recent years. Miguna depicts a cowardly leader lacking in personal integrity and undeserving of the praise and attention of recent years,” Ms Emma O'Bryen Max Scott of Gilgamesh Publishing Ltd says.

She said the book also delves on Miguna's early life, “from humble origins, through privations and hardship, his university days and his years as a practicing lawyer overseas".

Ms O'Bryen said the unique account pulls no punches, exposing the corruption at the heart of power in the Kenyan political system.

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Quoting excerpts from the book, Gilgamesh said Miguna’s suspension letter, marked ‘top secret’ was delivered to him 28 hours after the media started reporting its contents. Miguna says although media reports alleged he had been suspended for “misconduct,” he has never been given any particulars of this supposed “misconduct”.

“In other words, I had been accused, disgraced, judged and hanged without due process. And by Odinga, a man who had served eight years of detention without trial under Moi’s repressive regime. Odinga has always billed himself as an ‘agent of change’ and as a ‘progressive leader’ who believes in the rule of law and constitutionalism,” he said.

He added: “Yet here he was publicly humiliating his most senior personal adviser and friend. A friend who had supported his ambitions to become president of Kenya, stood by him loyally at his darkest hour in December 2007 after President Kibaki had stolen his presidential victory and had worked tirelessly for him ever since.”

“Why had he treated me this way?” What had I done? But even more importantly, had Odinga exposed himself as a man who couldn’t be trusted with power? Was Odinga a true democrat and ‘reformer’ as he had for decades claimed?"

On the night of the disputed 2007 general election, Mr Miguna said he demanded “very strongly” for the results to start being announced.

On relationship between Mr Odinga and President Kibaki, Mr Miguna said the PM shook uncontrollably and shed tears after meeting the Head of State.

“It was about 3:30pm on April 6, 2008. Everyone in the room was stunned. They had never seen Raila cry before. We looked at each other, unable to move. No one was prepared for this heart-wrenching scene. I guess we had assumed that Raila was ‘superhuman’. He had a larger-than-life image in the consciousness of Kenyans...But there he was, someone we all held in awe, wailing uncontrollably in front of everyone.”