Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s long-serving bodyguard, Maurice Ogeta, has spoken candidly about his abduction and his years spent protecting the veteran leader.
Speaking in a media interview marking one year since Odinga’s passing, Ogeta detailed the severe financial loss he suffered when he was seized by armed men in 2023.
The Car Wash Abduction
On 19 July 2023, during anti-government demonstrations in Nairobi, Ogeta stopped at a local car wash before visiting Odinga at Nairobi Hospital. Minutes later, plainclothes security officers surrounded his vehicle.
Ogeta chose not to resist. "I told them I'm armed just remove the pistol," he recalled of the confrontation.
He was bundled into the boot of a Subaru and driven away. The abductors vandalised his vehicle and took KSh 14.7 million in cash. 
The funds included Ogeta’s personal life savings, money belonging to Odinga, and funds meant for an investment project.
“I was taken to places I don’t know up to date, they took money. I lost 14.7 million. It was in the car and they took it. It took me 10 years back because those were my savings,” he said.
Online news reports from the period confirm Ogeta was held blindfolded in an empty room for three days. His captors eventually dumped him in Ruai, along Kangundo Road, in the early hours of 21 July 2023.
Ogeta firmly rejected public rumours claiming he staged the incident to keep the money, noting that Odinga understood the situation completely.
Shielding Raila Under Fire
Ogeta also reflected on the extreme dangers of guarding Odinga during intense political rallies.
He recalled a confrontation in Pipeline where police cornered their convoy of nearly 200 vehicles. As teargas, stones, and bullets struck the treated vehicle, the windscreen cracked.
"I've put him to lie down not even sitting on the seat now coz now it was a matter of let them get to you as the last person anyway."
Ogeta covered Odinga on the car floor with available items while reassuring his team over the radio.
Final Moments and Untangling Rumours
Ogeta addressed viral media clips regarding Odinga’s health. He clarified that a widely shared video of Odinga in a hospital gown was taken during a previous trip to Dubai, not in India.
"I held his hands I realized coz I wanted to start moving to take him to the other seat where we had left the phones and all that where we started then I saw him He started sweating," Ogeta explained.
Odinga then lost physical control, and Ogeta held him firmly until medical help arrived.
Ogeta stated he takes comfort in knowing he did his absolute best for his boss until the end.
