ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga’s father was a prominent Kenyan politician with a legacy of introducing multiparty democracy in the country. In addition, he pioneered the opposition Party that would eventually limit Moi’s terms in office. This article explores Jaramogi Oginga Odinga biography and profile facts.
Like his son Raila, Jaramogi was a highly educated Kenyan politician in his day. His unceasing fight against bad governance live on to this day.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga profile
REal name | Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga |
Birthday | Oct 1911 |
Death | Jan 20 1994 |
Age | 82 years |
Wives | 4 |
Children | 7 |
Career | Teacher |
Profession | Politician |
Net worth | Ksh 5 billion |
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga biography
Jaramogi was a powerful politician in the regimes of Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Arap Moi.
Elsewhere, he was a polygamous man of four wives including Raila’s mother Mary Juma, Gaudencia Adeya, Susan Agik, and Betty Adongo.
He was blessed with seven children among them Raila Amolo Odinga and Oburu Odinga.
Parents and ancestry
Odinga was born and raised at Nyamira Kang’o village in Boando, about 60 kilometers from Kisumu City.
His father was Mzee Odinga Raila and his mother Mama Apondo.
Education and career history
Odinga attended Maseno School and later Alliance High School. He later proceeded to Makerere University in 1940.
He eventually secured a job as a teacher at Maseno School. In 1948, he joined the Kenya African Union Party.
by 1957, Odinga has risen to teh ranks of a Luo spokesperson, a title formerly held by Ramogi Ajjwang.
in 1960, Odinga joined KANU alongside Tom Mboya. In 1964, he became Kenya’s first Vice President
Persistent disagreements with President Jomo Kenyatta led to his resignation from office in 1966.
Fast forward, Odinga died in 1994 at the Aga Khan Hospital Kisumu and was later buried in his Bondo home.
Elsewhere, supporters and critics often crash at the mention of an inherent curse preventing Raila from becoming commander in chief.
Sadly, no one seems to understand the genesis of these โcurseโ allegations.
Jaramogi Cursing Raila Odinga propaganda
A man of Railaโs calibre is vulnerable to several accusations on matters of corruption, Illuminati, and ancestral twists.
To clear the air, Raila is a Christian by faith and a baptized member at All Saintsโ Cathedral Church.
It turns out he was not cursed by his biological father Jaramogi. Here is how a decades-long curse narrative started.
Raila and father Jaramogi in Ford Kenya politics
Fighting for multiparty democracy was not easy at the peak of President Daniel Arap Moiโs suppressive regime.
By coincidence, Raila and his no-nonsense dad Jaramogi were core principals in the opposition government.
Holding senior offices in the same party meant occasional differences in ideologies.
The most notable moment of heated disagreement between Raila and Jaramogi is what gave birth to an alleged curse that did not happen in the first place.
Raila clashing with Jaramogi
The 1992 Ford Kenyaโs National Delegates Conference ended with Raila sending a strong message on his disagreements with various party affairs.
Sources among them Daily Nation and Kenyans.co.ke point that a then 46 years old Raila stormed the meeting as Jaramogi was addressing the delegates.
โHe was accompanied by a group of rowdy youth waving twigs and literally caused a moment of panic when his father was addressing the conference.โ
Veteran Journalist Oscar Obonyo.
In response, Railaโs angered father commanded the chaotic group into silence.
โAmolo, can you tell those boys to stop shouting.โ
Railaโs father Jaramogi.
The unruly youths calmed down upon communicating Railaโs message of displeasure to the fullest.
As a result, Railaโs respect within the party escalated.
He would become a Deputy Director of Elections within months and soon after a Member of Parliament for Langโata Constituency.
Tales of Jaramogi Cursing Raila Odinga may have been started by critics of his 1997 presidential bid. Even so, there is no sufficient evidence to back up or refute the controversial ‘curse’ claims.
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