Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga and his wife Ida on Thursday night marked their 50th wedding anniversary at a colourful ceremony held at the luxurious Villa Rosa Kempinski hotel in Nairobi.
The event coincided with Ida's 73rd birthday celebration.
In photos seen by K24 Digital, Ida was treated to a hammer ride as she celebrated her big day. Accompanying her were her daughter Rosemary, son Raila Odinga Junior, Winnie and their grandchildren.
Raila serenaded the love of his life with a rendition of the timeless melody 'Jamaican Farewell' by Harry Belafonte as guests sang along to celebrate the opposition leader's wife.
The star-studded event was attended by the who's and who in both the political and entertainment scenes.
Among the guests were Raila's running mate in the last presidential election Martha Karua, Siaya Governor James Orengo, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugine Wamalwa and former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.
Others were MP Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino and his Likoni counterpart Mishi Mboko among other high-ranking dignitaries.
Celebrated Ohangla singer Prince Indah and Esther Akoth alias Akothee entertained guests at the event.
Raila weds Ida
Raila tied the knot with Ida on September 1, 1973.
The seasoned politician 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."
