By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with GORDON OSEN AND LUKE AWICH
Published on 2024-01-18 18:00:00
A special jamboree to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the passing of former Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga will take place in Kisumu on Saturday. ODM leader Raila Odinga announced that the family has organized a grand event to honor his father’s memory.
Jaramogi passed away on January 20, 1994, at the age of 83. The day’s events will commence with a memorial service at ACK St Stephen’s in Kisumu, followed by a public lecture at Ofafa Memorial Hall. Kisumu city manager Abala Wanga revealed that the hall has been renovated in preparation for the occasion.
The event will feature lectures from distinguished scholars, pan-Africanists, opinion leaders, and journalists in person and virtually. These speakers include renowned personalities such as Prof David Throup from George Washington University, retired Catholic archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth, Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, and others.
Governor Nyong’o lauded Jaramogi as a visionary leader who played a pivotal role in Kenya’s history, while journalist John Kamau expressed his gratitude to be involved in discussing Jaramogi’s enduring legacy.
Jaramogi is remembered not only for his short-lived vice presidency but also for his autobiography “Not Yet Uhuru,” which details his falling out with founding president Jomo Kenyatta and the suppression of dissenting voices in the country.
Furthermore, Jaramogi’s public clash with President Kenyatta in 1969 led to widespread civilian casualties and his subsequent arrest and detention. He is also recognized for founding Ford, although the party later split. In 1992, he ran for the presidency on the Ford Kenya ticket, finishing fourth with 17.5% of the votes.
The celebratory event in Kisumu aims to honor the multifaceted contributions of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga to Kenya’s history and to ensure that his legacy endures for years to come.
Read the original article on The Star
