With a string of oranges strapped on her head, chest, and waist; she makes moves that leave many in awe despite her old age.
Rose Akinyi, 67, popularly known as “Mama Orange” is a common sight in any ODM event. She is not shy of the cameras either.
In fact, she has become a sensation for media houses as cameramen try to capture her making youthful dancing moves whenever there is an ODM or NASA rally across the country.
In an interview with Citizen TV, Akinyi talked of loyalty she holds for ODM and its leader Raila Odinga.
She described it as inherent stating that if she was to be cut, her blood would ooze out not red in color but orange just like the orange juice.
Through her roadside food selling business in Nairobi’s Eastleigh, she works tirelessly to fend for her family together with her six grandchildren and also use the proceeds from her business to fund her trips for ODM/NASA campaigns.
But at times, the money is not enough and she is forced to borrow so as to attend ODM rallies wherever they are in the country.
She buys each orange at sh500 from a Chinese vendor. According to her, the Chinese oranges are light and are not a burden to her whenever she hangs them on her body and dances to her popular tune: “Tibim! Raila Tibim”.
She separated with her husband because of her long trips on the campaign trail. ”I told him [husband] that if he can’t cope, then he can go” she said. Her landlord too sent her out after she became too loud in the house.
And in the last two general elections where Raila has failed to clinch the Presidency, she said the feeling was disappointing.
She says that she is eyeing living in the State House once Raila and his NASA team takes Kenya’s leadership.
Her parting shot is nothing short of what true loyalty is all about: she says that should she pass on, oranges should be placed on top of her casket before she is covered with soil.