Former Prime Minister and National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga has disclosed the final words his father Jaramogi Odinga told him before he passed away.
In his book Flames of Freedom, Raila details that before the fateful day his father passed away, the two had met at their company, EA Spectre in the industrial area.
Jaramogi, who was unwell, called his son into his office where they spoke for an hour.
"I am not pleased about how people are talking about who will succeed me," Jaramogi further highlighted as he spoke about the Luo community and Ford-Kenya.
What shocked Raila is that his father did not talk about business as he usually did, but also chose to advise Raila on family matters.
Jaramogi particularly spoke to Raila about the right choice of school for one of his grandchildren.
The ODM leader further added that his father passionately offered his words of wisdom about the nature of politics and men.
Jaramogi then reminded Raila to send Ksh 100,000 to some university dons who had visited the family earlier on. The money was to be sent through Ford-Kenya and was to help the dons in their struggle for recognition.
Raila sent Jaramogi back to his Lavington home to rest after seeing how his father was worn out. He had to rest before flying to Kisumu that evening. According to Dr. Odhiambo Olel, who had managed Jaramogi’s health for 22 years, Jaramogi always liked to return home to Kisumu when feeling unwell. Jaramogi would later on fly to Kisumu, where Olel met with him and kept monitoring his health.
The next morning, January 20, 1994, Raila called Jaramogi about 10 am to discuss with him a fax he had received that morning at the Ford-Kenya headquarters concerning his father's planned trip to Uganda but could not speak to him as he was with his doctor. Raila spoke to one of Jaramogi’s aides who revealed that the father was still unwell but would keep Raila updated on the matter.
In Nairobi Raila spoke with James Orengo, who was about to leave for his sister-in-law’s funeral in Nyanza, to go and see Jaramogi to check about the Uganda visit, and then call Raila so that they could fax an answer to Kampala.
Later on in the day, Jaramogi was rushed to the Aga Khan Hospital where he was pronounced dead, in the presence of James Orengo, Dr. Olel and Susan (Jaramogi’s wife)
Raila reveals that his father maybe had a clue that his health would not sustain him much longer and that’s the reason why he spoke to him before the flight to Kisumu. It was the last time he would see him alive.
