Raila pays tribute to his late father Jaramogi
Nasa leader Raila Odinga has led Kenyans in paying tribute to his late father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga to commemorate the day he passed on 24 years ago.
On Saturday, the 73-year-old opposition leader took to Twitter to share a message in remembrance of his late father. The post was accompanied by a short video of Jaramogi.
Remembering my father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga who passed away on this day 24 years ago pic.twitter.com/07GVWt9JPy
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) January 20, 2018
To this, Kenyans on Twitter responded with glowing tributes to Mzee Jaramogi, who was Kenya first Vice President.
Important Day to Remember Kenyan Opposition Icon ! The Late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, RIP!
— Patrick Okumu-Ringa (@okumuringa) January 20, 2018
Great Man. Great Kenyan. The Heart and Soul of Kenya. Rock solid. For him it was not about money, but sound principles to die 4
— Lesiba Kanyane (@Lesiba222) January 20, 2018
A great man indeed. His son just like him if not more. Mzee we remember you.
— Abala Kinyua. ?? (@AbalaKinyua) January 20, 2018
The legacy of the late jaramogi oginga is still alive in a person of Raila odinga mzee you were never forgotten your presence is still felt in your son as it was when your were alive
— Samuel N Orutwa (@orutwasam) January 20, 2018
He still remains in our heart as one of the most heros that we have never seen
— Ezekiel Justine (@EzekielJustine1) January 20, 2018
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga is fondly remembered as a Kenyan nationalist and prominent figure in the country’s struggle for independence.
Upon Kenya’s independence in 1963, he was appointed the country’s first Vice President by President Jomo Kenyatta.
But the two would fallout three years later with Jaramogi quitting government and the ruling party Kanu to form his own political outfit, Kenya People’s Union (KPU).
The man widely considered as the doyen of opposition politics in Kenya would later be placed under house arrest and his KPU outlawed by the government.
POLITICAL LIFE
After many years in the political wilderness and following the death of Mzee Kenyatta, Jaramogi led a host of other political dissident in pushing for Kenya’s return to multiparty democracy in the early 1990s.
In 1992, he contested and lost the presidency to President Daniel Arap Moi in what was Kenya’s first multiparty elections in almost three decades.
Jaramogi died on January 20, 1994 at the age of 82 while serving as Member of Parliament for Bondo constituency and the leader of Ford-Kenya party, which he founded.