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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://joofoundation.org Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130109052851/http://joofoundation.org/ Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation]
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Revision as of 17:25, 11 December 2017

Vice-President of Kenya
In office
12 December 1964 – 14 April 1966
PresidentJomo Kenyatta
Succeeded byJoseph Murumbi
Personal details
Born
Obadiah Adonijah

October 1911 (1911-10)
Bondo, British East Africa
Died20 January 1994(1994-01-20) (aged 82)
Nairobi, Kenya
Political party
List
Spouse(s)Mary Juma (d. 1984)
Gaudencia Adeya
Nyar Uyoma
Susan Agik
Betty Adongo
Children
17
  • Raila Amolo Odinga
    Wenwa Akinyi
    Beryl Achieng' Odima
    Omondi
    Shadrack Osewe Oginga
    Ruth Adhiambo
    (with Mary Juma)
    Caroline Walkowa Akinyi
    (with Gaudencia Adeya)
    Isaac Omondi
    Emily Onyango
    (with Susan Agik)
    Pauline Adhiambo
    Kevin Opiyo Odinga
    Lemmy Odongo Odinga
    Corazon Acquino
    Albert Adur
    Wilson Ating'a
    (with Betty Adongo)[1]
Residence(s)Nairobi and Bondo
Alma materMakerere University, Kampala, Uganda
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionTeacher, Author

Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga (October 1911

Vice-President, and thereafter as opposition leader. Odinga's son Raila Odinga is the former Prime Minister,[3] and another son, Oburu Odinga
, is a former Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Finance.

Jaramogi is credited for the phrase "Not Yet Uhuru" which is the title of his autobiography written in the 1980s during his time under house arrest. "Uhuru" means freedom in Swahili and he was referencing his belief that even after independence from British colonialism, the brutal oppression of opposition in political affairs in Kenya, meant that the country had still not attained real freedom. Jaramogi's son Raila was also in detention for a period of eight years.

Early years and career

Oginga Odinga was born in the village of Nyamira Kang'o,

Maseno High School as a teacher. In 1948 he joined the political party Kenya African Union
(KAU).

Spurred to empower his

Luo people
in the whole of East Africa. His efforts earned him admiration and recognition among the Luo, who revered him as Ker – a title previously held by the fabled classical Luo king, Ramogi Ajwang, who reigned 400 years before him. Vowing to uphold the ideals of Ramogi Ajwang, Odinga became known as Jaramogi (man of the people of Ramogi).

Vice presidency

According to Luo tradition, a Ker can not be a politician, so Odinga relinquished his position as king in 1957 and became the political spokesman of the Luo. The same year, he

Vice-President
.

As Vice-President he did not agree with

Western bloc.[6] This led to Odinga resigning from his post and quitting KANU in 1966 to form the Kenya People's Union
(KPU).

In opposition

The friction between Odinga and Kenyatta continued, and in 1969 Odinga was arrested after the two verbally abused each other publicly at a chaotic function in Kisumu – and where at least 11 people were killed and dozens were injured in riots. He was detained for two years, and was consigned to political limbo until after Kenyatta's death in August 1978.

Kenyatta's successor, Daniel arap Moi, appointed Odinga as chairman of the Cotton Lint and Seed Marketing Board. He did not last long in the post, presumably because he was still outspoken against Kenyatta's policies. Odinga attempted to register a political party in 1982, but when Attorney-General Charles Njonjo amended the constitution (which made Kenya a de jure single-party state), his plans were foiled.

Following the

Forum for the Restoration of Democracy
(FORD). The formation of FORD triggered a chain of events that were to change Kenya's political landscape, culminating in ending KANU's 40 years in power – eight years after Odinga's death.

FORD split before the

Ford-Kenya ticket, but finished fourth with a share of 17.5% votes. However, he regained the Bondo Constituency
seat after being forced out of parliamentary politics for over two decades. Odinga died in 1994.

Private life

Odinga was

polygamous and had four wives: Mary Juma, Gaudencia Adeya, Susan Agik and Betty Adongo. With these wives he had seventeen children. Mary is the mother of Raila and Oburu.[8] Mary died in 1984.[9]

See also

  • Luo people of Kenya and Tanzania

References
  1. ^ Wenwa Akinyi Odinga Oranga (25 July 2007). "THE ODINGA FAMILY LINE". Jaluo.com. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  2. ^ Présence Africaine (in French). 1970.
  3. ^ Vogt, Heidi (28 February 2008). "Kibaki, Odinga have a long history". Associated Press. USA Today. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  4. ISBN 978-3-643-90661-8
    .
  5. ^ "kakamega Old Boys". Maseno School. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  6. ^ Maxon, R.M. & Ofcansky, T.P. (2000). Historical Dictionary of Kenya. Scarecrow Press.
  7. ^ "Kenya's Way Of Honoring Its Leaders". 31 March 1991. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ Jaluo.com, 25 powerful 2007: THE ODINGA FAMILY LINE
  9. ^ Newsweek Web Exclusive, 22 January 2008: The Man Who Would Be President

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
New office
Vice-President of Kenya

1963–1966 		Succeeded by
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