{"id":5990,"date":"2015-01-10T14:16:06","date_gmt":"2015-01-10T14:16:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gormahia.net\/latest\/?p=5990"},"modified":"2015-01-10T14:29:48","modified_gmt":"2015-01-10T14:29:48","slug":"rest-in-peace-fidel-odinga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gormahia.net\/latest\/news\/rest-in-peace-fidel-odinga\/","title":{"rendered":"Rest in Peace Fidel Odinga"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Fidel Odinga the Grandson of Kenya’s first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and first son of\u00a0 Kenya’s foremost people’s rights fighter Raila Odinga was laid to rest.<\/p>\n

Fidel Odinga was an avid Gor Mahia fan. Unbeknownst to most, he was involved in various activities including the youth team. It is for this reason that Gor Mahia fans turned out in droves for his funeral.<\/p>\n

According to the Standard,Gor Mahia Football Club carried out the day as they turned up in large numbers to pay their last respect to Fidel Castro during his emotional send-off on Saturday. The fans hummed praise songs and dirges to eulogise the late Fidel Odinga stating that he was a true Gor Mahia hero. “Fidel was a friend of all the people and to be specific the Kogallo family. I sell peanuts in Kisumu, but when games are held in Nairobi I travel all the way to sell to the fans. Fidel would use as much as Sh3000 in purchasing peanuts just for the fans,” said Ezekiel Kawere an ardent fan.<\/p>\n

“I have lost a customer and real fan who motivated most of us. Someone who would chip in to support the club, not everyone has such a heart,” added Kawere. The emotional fans who mourned in peace stated that the late Fidel deserved respect and a peaceful send-off. “We have not been harassed by anyone and we will not create any tension. We have lost a dear friend and disciplinarian. Too sad for us and he can never be replaced,” said Jack Omondi a fan from Kisumu. Youths from the county eulogised the late Fidel as a social person, who loved giving out without complaining.<\/div>\n
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Jaro Soja and others below represented the Gor Mahia contingent at the funeral Image courtesy of Michael Onyango<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Fidel also supported other sports.<\/h3>\n

In 2014, Fidel stepped in to offer financial support to Kisumu Rugby Football club. The club had been in a dire financial situation having lost their previous patron. They had forfeited many matches because players simply would not show up. Fidel came to the rescue. It is for this reason that the Kenya Rugby Football Union (KRFU) mandated a moment of silence to remember Fidel.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe bought some of the uniforms our players wear during games and sometimes he chipped in financially, because he has walked with us we are here to give him a decent send-off . The last time I saw him was during Rugby Dala sevens in Kisumu and he was jovial and a simple man,\u201d said Tecklar Wasongo a fan of Kisumu RFC.<\/div>\n
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A moment of silence was observed before the match between Homeboyz and Harlequins in order of Fidel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Former KRFU chairman Mwangi Muthee eulogized Fidel Odinga thus:<\/div>\n
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\u201cI met Fidel Odinga about 10 years ago. Fidel liked rugby very much, had many friends among rugby players, but followed the game very much in the periphery. Only very recently I appealed to him and encouraged him to help out in rugby management; by assisting Kisumu Rugby Football Club which was then struggling in many aspects\u201d said Muthee<\/p>\n

\u201cHe effected a remarkable, almost immediate, turn-around. He became the Chairman of the team that had been relegated from the top-flight competition and which, in just half of the current season, is topping its second-tier division, virtually guaranteeing itself a place in the play-offs for promotion back to the Kenya Cup\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFidel had become my friend whom I admired for the commitment to support rugby in one of the high potential regions in our country, Kisumu, in particular and Nyanza and Western in general. He was so effective in stablising the game, bringing in freshness and boosting morale that the game was looking up like never before\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFidel\u2019s humbleness, calmness and easy-going nature was unbelievable. His background was in the top echelons of society but he was the finest example of wonderful Kenyans who get along across diverse class, regional, religious, age or philosophical lines\u201d<\/p>\n

Because of his love for sports, rugby players and fans were among the thousands of mourners who made it to Bondo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Rest In Peace<\/h3>\n
On behalf of Gor Mahia bloggers branch, Gor Mahia online supporters club and GORMAHIA.NET, this author would like to offer condolences to the family of Fidel Makarios, Castro, Odhiambo, Odinga, May the Lord rest his soul in eternal peace and give his family strength.<\/div>\n
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Artwork courtesy of Victor Oti Owach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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