Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Ida Odinga marked their 50th wedding anniversary and Ida's 73 birthday in style at a private event attended by close friends and family including celebrities.
The political couple marked the milestones of their lifetime at the Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel in Westlands, Nairobi County.
Being the star of the show, Ida was treated to a hammer ride alongside her daughter Rosemary, Raila Jr, Winnie and their grandchildren. Interestingly, the IOdinga family was also celebrating the birthday of Raila Jr.'s kid who was turning two years.
Among the political friends invited to the event were Narc Kenya Party leader Martha Karua, Siaya Governor James Orengo and Likoni MP Mishi Mboko among others.
Prince Indah and Esther Akoth (Akothee) were among the guest performers for the night event that went minutes past midnight.
As per the schedule, the event started at 6:30 p.m. and crossed over till minutes past midnight. To mark the two milestones, we incorporated various event segments such as the birthday cake cutting.
During the heartfelt speeches, the ex-premier eloquently portrayed Ida as the true love of his life, extending his warmest wishes for many more years of joy together.
The ODM boss, with a melodious voice, serenaded his beloved wife, expressing profound gratitude for her unwavering support as the family's steadfast anchor for over five decades.
In a touching moment, Raila graced the occasion with a rendition of the timeless melody "Jamaican Farewell" by the legendary Harry Belafonte. This moving gesture was a tribute to his wife, a devoted fan of the iconic singer, encapsulating their enduring love and shared passions.
"I am seeing this baby who has been born and you can see how beautiful she is. Everyone can see that her face is still shining. In my incarnation, I lived in Germany," he stated.
The duo's children led by the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Winnie, gifted their mother Ksh1 million to go towards the construction of the Ida Odinga Library which is being constructed at Ogande Girls in Homa Bay County to the tune of Ksh350 million.
the Villa Rosa Kempinski for their 50th Anniversary celebration on August 24, 2023.
Winnie hinted that the family was still planning another intimate event for the duo in December.
"A year ago this place would have been packed to the end but we prefer it this way (small group) because these are the real ones. This is ust the beginning and we are encouraging them to do another wedding in December.
"We encourage their friend to push them to mark it," she stated as the room burst into laughter.
