This archive report was first published on 26 December 2019.
On Christmas Day, Rosemary Odinga, the daughter of Raila Odinga, shared a remarkable story of recovery with the congregation at St Peter's ACK church in Bondo, Siaya County. The occasion was a Christmas service, and Rosemary had accompanied her father.
According to Rosemary, she had been partially blind for two years, a condition that forced her to shelve her political ambitions and seek specialized treatment for two aneurysms, a brain tumour, and a stroke. She had been eyeing the Kibra parliamentary seat in last year's General Election.
Speaking to the congregation, Rosemary revealed that she had to learn to use sounds and movements of people to tell who was around her during her difficult times. She expressed gratitude for the prayers and support she received during that period, saying, "I felt alone and had to quickly learn to use sounds and movements of people to tell who was around me. Those were the most trying moments of my life. People would see me and think I was able to see because my eyes were 'wide open'. I am grateful for your prayers and support during those difficult times".
Rosemary's troubles began in 2017 at a workshop for women political aspirants in Naivasha, where she collapsed in her room, which she was sharing with her two daughters. She was later airlifted to the Nairobi Hospital before being transferred to South Africa for further treatment.
Published on 2019-12-26.
