May 13, being world’s Mothers’ Day, Ida Odinga-wife to opposition Chief Raila Odinga has much to say about the role of a mother in a family and in the society.
Ida by description is an epitome of resilience and a support system not only for her family but also for the society.
In an interview with Daily Nation, Ida recalls how she had to spend eight years alone while her husband was in detention during Moi’s era.
Besides this, she showed the face of a strong woman last year while Raila campaigned intensely for the presidency while she took care of their daughter, Rosemary Odinga was ill.
Today, Ida is the managing director of their vast business empire, East Africa Spectre Limited which is the largest gas cylinder-manufacturing company located along Mombasa Road, Nairobi.
“I am many things to many people; a wife, a mother, a grandmother, an aunt, a businesswoman. I have learned to multitask and balance all these responsibilities well, just like many other women do every day,” she says with a chuckle.
On marriage, she says, “These days young girls enjoy the idea of a grand wedding,” said Ida. “But as you say your vows, you should internalise their meaning. In sickness or in health; in good times or bad times. Can you stand by those words in the worst of times?”
Ida adds that her outlook on life is because of the hardships she was brought up with by her mother after her father’s death. She says the mother raised six of them single-handedly but with challenges.
She says through her life experiences, she is a champion of support to single mothers.
“Single mothers, whether young or old, whether in the rural or urban places, need support. Whenever they cannot take care of their kids, they will send them to the streets where they will acquire hard-to-erase habits.”
On matter politics, she said the handshake between her husband and President Uhuru Kenyatta has paved way to building Kenya. She avers that all and sundry should support this call.
She advices the wives of politicians not to be drawn into the political enmity of their husbands.
“Never inherit your husband’s political enemies, inherit their friends. When you are thinking that this is a political enemy, they have already shook hands, leaving you with egg on your face,” opines Ida.
She also says that though Raila turn to her before making crucial political decisions, she always remains a backbencher in political matters and lets him handle politics but always supports him.