Uhuru’s brother Muhoho Kenyatta attends memorial for Raila Odinga’s father Jaramogi
The family of Kenya’s first vice president Jaramogi Oginga Odinga on Sunday commemorated 25 years since his death on January 20, 1994.
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s brother, Muhoho, has graced the ceremony which was set to be a modest affair since an elaborate one will be held next month in Kisumu.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to grace the ceremony in Bondo ahead of the major event set to be held in Kisumu next Month, according to family spokesperson and EALA MP Dr Oburu Oginga.
Today, President Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga, the son of late doyen of opposition politics are expected to lead other guests and family members for a prayer service at Nyamira ACK Church in Bondo before proceeding to the Jaramogi mausoleum to lay a wreath.
President Kenyatta returns barely a day after he attended the funeral of former Youth Development Fund chairman Bruce Odhiambo’s burial in Muhoroni on Saturday.
Mr Odinga and CS Raphael Tuju are already at the Nyamira ACK Church.
The major annual event which is usually hosted by family and graced by prominent persons, friends and supporters was postponed to February after Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o who is one of the organizers, fell ill.
The memorial as has been tradition is usually held on January 20 in Bondo Siaya County, home of the first Vice President of Kenya.
This time round, the family said it will be held in Kisumu to mark “quarter century” since his demise on January 20, 1994.
Yesterday, family spokesperson Dr Oburu Oginga stated the major ceremony was postponed to allow Prof Nyong’o who was taken ill last week, recuperate before plans continue.
“Given that the Governor was sick and the month also seemed squeezed for us, and because of the tight schedule, we decided to postpone the event to next month,” said Dr Oginga.
The Kisumu County boss was airlifted to Nairobi for what doctors at the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu termed as ‘conclusive tests’.
Prof Nyong’o fell ill during the installation ceremony of catholic archbishop Philip Anyolo and was rushed to the hospital where he remained admitted.
The doctors stabilized and monitored him and later, his communication secretary said he had been diagnosed with low blood pressure and put on bed rest.
The governor is regarded as a key player in the organization of the event, according to Dr Oginga who confirmed to the Nation that plans are now in top gear urging the public to turn up for the fete on the day that they will be announcing later.
“This is the first event of its kind that we are hosting outside Bondo. We want people to turn up for this ceremony,” said Dr Oginga.
He added that the two-day event is expected to attract visitors from outside the country as well.
“The public lecture has attracted scholars, leaders, students and the general public who are all welcomed to the event,” said the EALA MP.
According to program, the February memorial will start with a morning Prayer at St Peters Cathedral in Kisumu and later a public lecture at Tom Mboya Labor College before a gathering at the Jomo Kenyatta sportsground.
The late Jaramogi’s memorial is usually conducted together with that of his grandson Fidel Odinga, who died on January 4, 2015.