News Break
Hekima Kaka Society on 12th February 2021 honored Dr. Ida Betty Odinga for her outstanding and valuable contribution to the welfare of Nationhood, Education, Equity and family life at a colorful ceremony held the the Kempisky Hotel Nairobi.
Speakers at the event including Nairobi County Women Representative Hon. Esther Passaris, former Karachuonyo Member of Parliament Ms Phoebe Asiyo, Global Peace Foundation Country Director Daniel Juma praised Dr. Odinga, wife to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the role she has played in uniting the country against all odds.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Juma who is also the Vice Chairman of Hekima Kaka Society said Ida was the inspiration and force behind former Prime Minister Raila Odinga adding “I have known Mama Ida Odinga for many years and I consider myself a friend of her family and her husband Raila Odinga is a man I admire greatly and look upto. I have had the honour of listening to Baba’s words of wisdom in our many trips and abroad and locally. But as they say behind every successful man lies a great woman and that is why today we are here to honour the matriarch of the Odinga family.”
Ms. Phoebe Asiyo recalled how Ida managed to raise her children single-handedly when her husband and ODM leader Raila Odinga was in detention and away from the country for a long period. She also said that the handshake and the Building Bridges Initiative could not have happened without the blessings and encouragement of Ida to her husband Raila Odinga.
Nairobi County Woman Representative Esther Passaris congratulated Ida for her journey and selfless service and called on Kenyan leaders to emulate her values and simplicity.
Former Ndhiwa MP Tom Obondo who represented the Komollo Clan presented Ida with a mantle of authority or leadership to protect the interest of the community.
In her acceptance speech Ida thanked Hekima Kaka Society for the recognition and promised to work even harder to mentor young boys and girls to escape the problems of unwanted pregnancies and succeed in life. Ida rooted for the Building Bridges Initiative and called on politicians to respect one another and stop insulting other leaders in public saying Kenya belongs to all Kenyans.
At the event, Ida Odinga Trust signed an MoU with Hekima Kaka Society to continue in their activities of educating girls and boys.
Hekima Society was founded in 2008 by Agnes Salome Awuor to address the flight of the boy child and men in Kenya who have been excluded in the gender equality agenda. In her interaction with men and young boys in schools and universities being an educationist and counselor, Awuor realized the extent to which boys and men in general are being silenced in the wells of alcohol, drugs, self-pity, lack of direction, terrorist and criminal groups, unemployment, suicide, illiteracy and hopelessness.
Others who attended the event included Ida’s daugher Rosemary Odinga, Siaya County Deputy Governor Dr. James Okumbe, Busia County Women’s Representative Hon. Florence Mutua, Rangwe MP Dr. Lilian Gogo, President & CEO at Africa Center Advanced Technology Dr. Mark Matunga, the 1st Lady of Siaya County Mrs. Rosella Rasanga and many others.
