Nyanza mourns Jaramogi's speech writer

Nyanza,Kenya: The former speech writer and press secretary to the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Barrack Odinge Odera is dead. The late Odera, 82, died on Monday after a long illness at Nairobi West hospital where he had been hospitalised.

The late Odera is well known to the Jaramogi family, following his closeness with the late Jaramogi during the turbulent times of political re-alignments in the country. He studied Journalism and Government at the University of South Dakota in The United States of America, thereby becoming Jaramogi's right hand man in matters to do with leadership and governance.

Dr Oburu Oginga, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) nominated MP and eldest son to the late opposition doyen Jaramogi, describes the fallen Odera as a perfectionist, whose education background and experience as an editor endeared him to Jaramogi.

"He was my father's speech writer and he always wanted Jaramogi to speak the best English. This was a person who won Jaramogi's trust at all times. He was swift at making decisions and whenever he was assigned to come up with a draft on some topic, Odera would immediately do it without procrastinating," Oburu told The Standard.

Ruth Odinga, The Deputy Governor Kisumu County concurs with her brother, describing the late Odera as a non-compromising person.

"Odera believed in real democracy. He stressed on a government by the people, for the people and with the people," said Ruth.

"In the early 1970s, Odera who was then working with National Housing Corporation (NHC) was confronted by the then Managing Director Samuel Ayany, who told him to choose between his job and following Odinga. Odera resigned as a matter of principles, citing intimidation on democratic ideals," said Oburu, saying that that was the beginning of the saying "Odingaism."

"In fact Odera was a true 'Odingaist'," added Oburu.

The late Odera who will be laid to rest on March 21, 2015 in Majimbo village in Uhundha clan, Imbo-Usenge, Bondo, Siaya County. He leaves behind a widow Hellen Odera, two sons Rev Dr Pete Odera and Gowi Odera and daughter Achieng Odera.