The solemn occasion of a state burial for a late ODM party stalwart at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University Grounds turned into a moment of powerful reflection last week, as Mama Ida Odinga, wife to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, shared candid insights into their 52-year-long marriage.
Her heartfelt testament to enduring love and commitment has since triggered a spirited debate across Kenyan social media, with many asking: Can today’s generation match the longevity of past marriages?
Mama Ida, 75, took attendees back to the beginning, tracing their relationship back over five decades.
“I first met Raila way back in the early seventies and we got married in 1973. For that reason, I have lived with this man for 52 years,” she stated, a fact that resonated deeply with the public.
She quickly dispelled the notion that their decades together were a fairytale. Like any family, she admitted, their journey had its “ups and downs”.
The Odinga marriage was tested by challenges familiar to all couples, but their resilience, she explained, was forged through deliberate effort.
The former Prime Minister’s wife offered simple yet profound advice for navigating a lifelong partnership: communication, truth, and forgiveness.
“As we continue living together, we’ve learnt how to cope because we all have weaknesses and strengths,” she shared. “We learnt to talk with one another and speak the truth. We learnt to forgive and move on.”
This powerful counsel immediately struck a chord with Kenyans online, many of whom were astonished by the couple’s extraordinary half-century milestone.
Mama Ida’s words poured fuel onto an existing social media discussion about the durability of modern relationships.
The sentiment quickly shifted to comparing the commitment shown by the Odingas to the perceived fleeting nature of relationships among younger generations.
Kate on Instagram declared the account “a very strong message to our youth starting this marriage life.” Cherise Manka added that the Odingas “taught the young generation that marriage isn’t always perfect happiness.”
However, others took a more cynical view. Joan Chivan observed pointedly, “52 yrs in marriage. Hawa Gen z na millennials ata 6 months kufika ni noma” (These Gen Z and Millennials struggle to even reach 6 months).
Yet, the key takeaway for many, like James Kariuki, remained positive: “Mama message is fire. Solution is to speak the truth and forgiveness. Getting a partner that can stick with you always is a blessing.”