- Ida Odinga has advised people to give their babies meaningful names and not just names they saw written somewhere
- During the state funeral service held for the late Raila Odinga at the Nyayo National Stadium, Ida took Kenyans back in time to how they named their four beloved children
- Two of Ida’s and the late Raila’s children were named after international icons that have helped to shape the political landscape of their countries
- On the other hand, the remaining two were named after beloved family members who greatly impacted the couple
Nairobi, Kenya: The widow of departed Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga, Mama Ida, has shared how they lovingly gave their children meaningful names.
Source: Facebook
While speaking at the requiem mass of the late human rights defender, dad, husband, and politician at the Nyayo Stadium, Ida shared that Raila named his firstborn son Fidel Castro Odhiambo Odinga.
“During our union we were blessed with four children, and the first one was Fidel. When Fidel was born, I was a bit hesitant about the way he gave the names and said, why do you call him Fidel? Then he said that he was an admirer of former Cuban president Fidel Castro,” said Ida.
Fidel was a communist president who started as a freedom fighter, and when he died, his brother Raúl Castro succeeded him.
“Later we had the second child, Rosemary and here again Rose is the name of my mother, and Mary was the name of his mother and together we named her Rosemary, it also has a meaning to us,” explained Ida.
According to the family matriarch, their third-born was named after Raila’s best friend, who was also his namesake and cousin called Raila Kembu, so he ended up with Raila Oginga Odinga.
And the fourth child, Ida, said that she was going to the hospital to give birth, and while in the ward, she saw Winnie Mandela and Nelson walking hand in hand after the latter had left prison and vowed to name their coming baby after either of them depending on its gender.
Source: Twitter
Who was Winnie Odinga named after?
Since they didn’t know the kind of child she was going to get, Ida said the boy would be named Nelson, and if it was a girl, she would be named Winnie. Winnie arrived, and that was their fourth child.
“I know you can name your child anything you want, but those who are still having babies give your child a meaningful name because you name them people you never saw simply because you saw the name written somewhere,” she said.
“There is nothing wrong with giving children names of people in our lives we think are our heroes,” she added.
Raila Junior promises to take care of mum
In another story, Raila Junior made a solemn promise to take care of his dear mother and sisters after his father’s sudden demise.
At the time, Juniour acknowledged how honourable it was to carry his father’s name, saying he was grateful for the responsibility it carried.
In an emotional tribute, Juniour made a promise to pick up from where he left off at the party level as well.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
