The former Prime Minister Raila Odinga hated greed and corruption, his wife Ida revealed while paying tribute to the fallen leader.
During the State Funeral Service accorded to the former prime minister Odinga at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi, on Friday, October 17, Mama Ida Odinga remembered the smart man she met and fell in love with and married in 1973.
Her marriage however stood firm irrespective of the rough political terrain that saw him get detention for nine years cumulatively without trial.
“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 said.
She revealed how the names of their four children were inspired by their heroes with positive influence in the societies.
“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,” Ida shared
The third, he named after his best friend and cousin, whom they shared a name with, so we ended up with Raila Oginga Odinga (Junior). Last, there was a big gap, and the fourth child.
“When I went to the maternity hospital, I was watching the Television 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,” said Idda
Adding that, “I said if it was a boy, it would be Nelson, if it was a girl, it would be Winnie. There’s nothing wrong with giving names of people who we think are heroes.”
At the same time, she advised those who are still in the age of bearing children to give their newborns meaningful names.
Ida echoed Odinga’s words of urging Kenyans to always maintain peace and shunning division. “Raila hated dishonesty; he hated greed that leads to corruption,”
“Our lives were not a smooth ride. We had our ups and downs, but as we continued living together, we learned how to cope because we have weaknesses and strengths. We learnt to talk truth to one another, speak the truth, forgive and move on.”
“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.”
