By Anderson Ojwang
On Saturday, at Ramba village in Rarieda constituency, Raila Amolo Odinga buried one of the two trusted, loyal and cherished family employees who have been the cog that has ensured they operate seamlessly.
In Raila’s family, two of his employees have been key to the effective and efficient management of the family’s businesses and security.
The two employees hold the family deep guarded secrets in business and security and are the trusted engines that glue the family together.
For Mama Ida Odinga, her secretary Judy Owino, is all that she needs to effectively and efficiently run the family business, Spectra International.
In Judy, Raila trusts that Mama Ida is in safe pair of gloves and the business is safe and rolling.
While for Mama Ida, George Oduor gave her the confidence and peace of mind that husband, Raila’s security and safety was guaranteed.
For Mama Ida , the presence of Oduor next to Raila was a reassurance that her husband was safe despite uncertainty and unpredictable moments that her husband faces in his daily political life.
That is why emotions were high with Raila’s family breaking down while other mourners couldn’t hold back the tears.
And leaders and mourners led by President William Ruto converged in Ramba to condole with Raila and his family.
Raila in his tribute said ” Georges’ departure marks not just the end of an era in my political journey but also a celebration of an enduring legacy of dedication and excellence that set him apart from his peers and enabled him to get where he did.
With Jaramogi’s death, we had to undertake a lot of reorganization both around our family businesses and political organizations.
There were new deployments and redeployment of existing personnel.
In that reorganization, we agreed to take George as personal security and aide.
This was a very challenging and uncertain time.
I was looking for someone who was loyal, and honest, who could be trusted with things like money, important documents and information.
Just as I had hoped, George turned out to be a person of impeccable character, innocent, sincere, generous and trustworthy.
He therefore turned out a man of great vigilance and a cornerstone of my security operations with meticulous attention to detail.
You could trust George with money, instruct on where it is to be spent and I could be sure it would reach the intended recipient.
He would pick a precious item you left behind and hand it to you intact.
He was civil and accommodating but smart and extremely alert.
He could smell danger from far and promptly and call for extreme caution or advise that we exit a place immediately.
His dedication to work and the overall cause was unmatched. Even as his health sometimes dwindled, he insisted on pulling himself up and showing up at work.”
Winnie Odinga, Raila’s last born wrote in her tribute “You were a true hero, taking care of Jakom and the family, saving our lives more times than one can count .
If there were a medal for loyalty and honor, you would have a whole wall of them.
So, that’s how I will remember you George: cool, calm, collected, a man of true loyalty and honor; saving our world, one day at a time. Until we meet again.”
Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga said “This man lying here was a great man.
I can tell you the man he was taking care of , Raila Amolo Odinga, is not a very easy person to take care of.
I can tell you, because I am his elder brother.
He was more than security to Raila, he was like a brother, he knew everything about Raila.
He knows what is ailing Raila and his programs, he could judge on the next course of action and was very sensitive on what Raila did.
George was my friend, I knew him in 1992, when he was with my dad, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, he campaigned for me under very difficult times.”
Kisumu Women Representative Ruth Odinga said George was irreplaceable and the demise was blow to the Odinga’s family.
“We knew that with George, Raila was safe.
We entrusted Raila’s security and safety in his hands and indeed, he delivered. He was a brother to us and the demise is a blow to us,” she said.
President Ruto said “I have come here not because George was elected in any capacity or wheels any public position, but I have come here because George has demonstrated beyond any doubt that he was a Kenyan who had demonstrated competence and integrity as confidant.
He has shown immeasurable loyalty as a Kenyan patriot and when he was trusted with the security of Raila.
We are celebrating a competent police office, confidant with great integrity and a loyal patriot as a security officer of the republic of Kenya.”
