Raila: I borrowed Ghanaian attire to celebrate Kenya's independence in 1963

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga  Photo: [Courtesy]

By Eunice Kavutha (@eunice_vex)

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has recounted how he borrowed a Ghanaian attire to celebrate Kenya's first independence in 1963 then as a student in East Germany.

Raila also learnt on the same day listening to radio that his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga had been appointed minister for Home affairs.

In his biography Flames of Freedom, Raila recollects how they planned a larger than life party to mark Kenya's independence. Interestingly 50 years later he joined in the national celebrations at Safaricom Stadium Kasarani as a national leader and praised the unity at a time President Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of Kenya's first President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta led Kenyans in marking the fete.

Here are execerpts from Flames of Freedom recounting how Raila celebrated Kenya's first independence.

In his biography, Flame of Freedom, he writes  how they booked a huge hall for celebrations and decorated it with the new Kenyan flag colours black,red and green.

The hall was packed and overflowing .He had been lent a black and white Ghanaian national outfit by his friend Quist. The whole hall was a riot of colour. They had debated what time the would simultaneously hoist Kenyan flag as it was 10pm Germany time.

Fireworks champagne corks burst across. People laughed,danced and celebrated a historic day . He then heard over the radio his father was named minister for Home Affairs.