Ida Odinga, the wife of Azimio One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga, turned 72 on Wednesday, August 24.
To celebrate the special day, Raila took to social media to remind Ida how much he treasurers her as she turns a year older.
In a brief romantic message, the ODM party leader appreciated the former high school teacher for sticking with the family through thick and thin.
Ida pillar of Raila’s family
The former prime minister said Ida has been a key pillar in the family, thanks to her wisdom and prayers.
“On each of your birthdays like today, I reflect on how you are by far the best thing that ever happened to me. Your strength, resilience, wisdom, and prayers have brought our family this far. Happy Birthday my dear Ida Betty,” Raila captioned a photo of the couple on their wedding day.
On each of your birthdays like today, I reflect on how you are by far the best thing that ever happened to me. Your strength, resilience, wisdom, and prayers have brought our family this far. Happy Birthday my dear Ida Betty. pic.twitter.com/afNeXOOn2E
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) August 24, 2022
The two have been married for 49 years and together sired four children; Fidel Odinga, Winnie Odinga, Rosemary Odinga and the late Fidel Odinga.
Raila met Ida when she was a student at the University of Nairobi. At the time, he was working as an employee of the university’s department of Engineering.
In the early years of their marriage, Ida spent most of the time with the kids following Raila’s incarceration in 1982, at the height of the second liberation struggle.
While marking Ida’s 70th birthday in Karen in 2020, Raila disclosed that his wife endured great suffering and humiliation during his nine-year-long stay in prison, as she struggled to keep her family steady.
“All this time, it was Ida who was taking care of Fidel, Rosemary, Winnie and Junior. For all that time she was a single mother,” Raila said.
“The kids and their mother did not know where to go. This lady you see here (Ida) has gone through a lot for my sake.”
