Ida Odinga’s Emotional 52-Year Tribute
During the State Funeral Service at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi on Friday, October 17, Mama Ida Odinga, the widow of the late Raila Odinga, delivered a touching tribute to her husband, the former Prime Minister.
She fondly reflected on the 52 years they spent together, recalling the remarkable man she first met in the early 1970s and fell in love with, eventually marrying in 1973.
Mama Ida shared how their marriage weathered many storms, including Raila’s political detentions and his courageous stand against the governments of their time.
“I first met Raila way back in the early 70s, and we got married in 1973. For that reason, I’ve lived with this man for 52 years. Many of the people in this stadium could easily be our children; no wonder you call him Baba,” she stated.
She also recalled how they named their four children in line with their heroes who embodied positive attributes.
“During our union, we were blessed with four children. The first child is Fidel Castro Odhiambo Odinga. When he was born, I was a bit hesitant about the name. He said he was a great admirer of Fidel Castro. Later, we had a second child, Rosemary. Rose is my mother’s name, and Mary is his mother’s and so we combined the two.
“The third, he named after his best friend and cousin, whom they shared a name, so we ended up with Raila Oginga Odinga (Junior). Last, there was a big gap, and came the fourth child. When I went to the hostel, I was watching the TV, and that’s the time Nelson Mandela came out of prison. I could see Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela walking out of the gates of the prison. I said if it was a boy, it would be Nelson, if it was a girl, it would be Winnie,” she recounted.
“There’s nothing wrong with giving names of people who we think are heroes.”
“Please don’t carry grudges from one generation to another, from one group to another, from sisters and brothers. We must learn to forgive easily.”
Raila was accorded a State Funeral Service, as directed by President William Ruto, for his decades of contribution to the country’s democracy.
Ida Odinga’s Emotional 52-Year Tribute
