Ida Odinga, the wife of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance Presidential Flag Bearer Raila Odinga has shared memories revealing the reason why she named her daughter Winnie.
Taking to her Facebook page on Thursday, June 9, Mrs Odinga posted a past photo of herself with her husband Raila and their two young daughters reminiscing the life she was forced to lead when her husband was away in detention.
In the photo, Mrs Odinga was carrying Winnie on her lap as Raila and their eldest daughter Rosemary sat alongside her.
“This picture was taken in 1991 when Jakom had just been released from detention. Winnie was 1 year and 3 months old,” Mrs Odinga said.
She further stated that the photo reminded her of the historic moment when Nelson Mandela walked out of prison after 27 years of incarceration in the company of his wife Winnie Mandela.
Mrs Odinga further stated that she was expecting her third born child, Winnie when Mandela was freed from prison.
“Therefore, this photo takes me back to when I was expecting Winnie Chogo, and I was watching on TV Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela walking out of prison after Mandela’s 27 Years of imprisonment and I told myself if this baby I’m expecting is a boy I would name him Nelson Mandela and if it’s a girl it would be Winnie Mandela,” Mrs Odinga said.
In an earlier post on her official Facebook page, Mrs Odinga said she drew the strength to soldier on from Winnie Mandela amid persecution from the then government over her husband’s political stand during the KANU days.
“When I was a teacher at Kenya High I looked up to Winnie Mandela. She carried the mantle and kept the fire burning when Mandela was in prison,
“During that time my husband was also in prison and I would look at her and say if Winnie can keep her promise and work hard for all these years how about me?” Mrs Odinga posed.
