Hidden Legacy Unveiled: Odinga Family Discloses Christian Names at Jaramogi Memorial
The Odingas’ Christian names were on Saturday revealed during the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s memorial service in Kisumu.
The memorial service was held at the Ofafa Memorial Hall in the lakeside city.
In a tweet on X, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) made the revelation terming it one of the lessons learnt at the memorial service.
“Did you know that our Party Leader’s Christian name is Joshua? And did you know that Mzee Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s Christian name was Nicodemus and Oburu’s is Caleb? These are some of the lessons we are learning at the 30th Anniversary of the Late Mzee Jaramogi,” ODM said.
Raila has always been known simply as Raila Amollo Odinga while his elder brother, Siaya Senator, as Oburu Odinga.
On the other hand, their late father was, and still is, widely known as Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga.
No record exists of them using Christian names.
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But Jaramogi’s anniversary, which was attended by different leaders, offered a rare glimpse into the family’s naming secret that had hitherto remained unknown to many.
The memorial service marked exactly 30 years since Kenya’s founding Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga died.
Raila organized the memorial service to celebrate and honor his legacy and place in Kenya’s history.
He invited renowned scholars, pan-Africanists, thought leaders, and journalists to speak at the event to be held at the Ofafa Memorial Hall in Kisumu.
“The event will be addressed physically and virtually by a stellar team from home and abroad, befitting the stature of Jaramogi the freedom fighter, the family man, the founding vice president, the businessman, the teacher, the farmer, the politician, and the great statesman,” Raila said in a statement on Wednesday.
Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga was a prominent political figure and one of the leaders of Kenya’s freedom fighters who helped secure the country’s independence.
He was appointed minister for home affairs in 1963, and in 1964 became vice president under founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
Hidden Legacy Unveiled: Odinga Family Discloses Christian Names at Jaramogi Memorial
