She is called a centenarian. Others call her a matriarch. Some call her granny of the century. She is 106 years old. But unknown to many are the secrets behind the 106-year-old Mama Agneta Odinga.

Agneta is the only surviving sister of the late doyen of opposition politics in Kenya and the first vice president of Kenya, Mzee Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga.

Within the family circles, she was the best friend of her brother Jaramogi and always travelled with her everywhere; he went either on official functions abroad or on local duty.

So trusted was Agneta within Jaramogi ranks and file that all members of the family respected her, and some feared her because of possible reprisals, and alert to his brother in case of any noticed misconduct or mistake.

Jaramogi’s family chief custodian

To most of the family members, Agneta was like the chief custodian of the secrets of Jaramogi and his family.

Sources within the family rank and file confided to us that the ageing granny was Jaramogi’s trusted custodian of information.

Ruth Odinga, a Kisumu County Woman Representative, recalls that her aunt was more powerful than her late mother, Mary Ajuma.

“Baba no ere kabisaa. My father loved her a lot. The reason being she knew how to keep secrets, and always she listened to Mzee Jaramogi and did exactly what he wanted done,” claimed Ruth.

Agneta was so swift in action during her heyday and stint with Mzee Jaramogi.

“She knew what time Mzee needed to eat when he needed rest and even water, and Mzee just found a lot of comfort with her around, to eat and drink at ease, as long as Agneta was present, whether in his house or on international trips,” said Ruth, of course with aid mum.

She would source for the right traditional foods or delicacies and feed Mzee Jaramogi with ease.

But Ruth, who was the last born in the polygamous family from the first house, also enjoyed the social services of Agneta more than any other member of their family.

“Mzee loved Ruth and always walked with her side by side at the time when he was serving as the Vice President of Kenya,” recalled Dr Oburu Odinga, his elder brother and now Siaya County Senator.

But it’s not that other siblings of Jaramogi weren’t loved. They were also loved. Interestingly, if they feared approaching and telling Jaramogi, they would use Agneta.

So, for most of the family members, Mama Agneta was the bridge between them and Jaramogi.

The late revered Luo community’s most prolific politician of the time, who is famed for the fight for multi-party democracy, just loved small children like Ruth during her formative years.

“Mzee Jaramogi had noticed a very unique character in Ruth and always loved her inquisitiveness. She would ask very philosophical questions,” said Agneta in a candid interview at Ruth’s house.

“This made Jaramogi love traveling with her and exposed her to new horizons locally and abroad,” recalled Mama Agneta.

Trips with Jaramogi

They used to fly with Jaramogi even abroad those days to South Korea, China, India, and Dubai, among other countries in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, for business and on official duty as Vice President of Kenya.

Mama Agneta, even despite her old age, is still going strong. She is very articulate and audible in her speech. The old woman doesn’t mumble words.

Although the matriarch had a stroke a year ago and struggles to speak, her caretakers say she is still alert and able to communicate very well.

And she is very jovial. Although she can’t walk without assistance and sit for many minutes, she does a lot of bed rest, watching television, and listening to soothing gospel music.

This, she says, enriches her soul and inspires her spiritual faith as she quickly connects with the supernatural and spiritual world with awe.

“I eat a lot of traditional foods, like Mitoo (Chlotolaria), cowpeas, Apoth, Osuga, Dek (spider weed), and many such natural leaves,” she explains.

This has kept her going. She has no problem with muscle or bone marrow because some of the traditional delicacies are rich in the natural nutrients the body needs.

“Some are medicinal, and that’s why they are tasting sour in the mouth. But of course, sweetness is in the mouth of the taster,” she laughed in narration.

The most valuable stint is the role Mama Agneta played, making her the epitome of family unity and ties.

She is the one who used to take care of honourable Ruth Odinga and former President Uhuru Kenyatta during the reigns of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the founding President of Kenya.

The family recalls that Mama Ngina would visit the family more frequently, and it’s Agneta who would take care of Uhuru and the likes of Ruth as they played around while their fathers discussed serious issues affecting Kenya.

Ruth has now taken her and is staying with her because if she had been taken to her home, she would have no one to look after her or care for her.

Kenya has no facilities to support the elderly, and families do not care about the elderly and see them as a burden left to die, while in developed countries, they hire nurses to look after the elderly.

Celebrated while alive

This is a matriarch who fought during the independence struggles of this country and was always ready to take care of Mzee Jaramogi and Mzee Kenyatta’s siblings.

“We, the Odinga family, decided that instead of waiting for her to die, we would celebrate her a live. The Luos should start celebrating the living instead of the dead,” claimed Ruth during a ceremony organise to celebrate the centenarian in what many people call bonus age.

The ceremony was also graced by Kisumu County Deputy Governor Dr Mathews Owili, Minority Leader in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi, Kisumu County Assembly Speaker Elisha Oraro, and other Luo community leaders.

The leaders addressed her age and advised the young people to guard against immoral acts that could compromise their lives if they wanted to live longer.

“Her age shows how well-mannered she was during her stint, and we envy her,” claimed Owili.

Most leaders present also echoed similar words of wisdom to the young people.

They hoped that her long life would serve as a lesson to young women of the present generation. Ruth said that in her footsteps, they had learned a lot to ape.