The blossoming relationship between the Kenyatta and Odinga families continues to manifest itself in both private and public meetings after years of political rivalry that ran for several decades.
On Tuesday, Ida Odinga, the wife to opposition chief Raila Odinga, joined First Lady Margaret Kenyatta at New York City for the ongoing UN session for Status of Women where they both pushed for affordable healthcare.
Mrs Odinga, who is said to have played instrumental role in uniting her husband and President Uhuru Kenyatta, backed the Beyond Zero Campaign by Mrs Kenyatta, the wife to President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"I joined @FirstLadyKenya for her Beyond Zero side event at #CSW63 on the reduction in maternal and child mortality in Kenya. Different nations also shared their experiences and efforts towards achieving universal health coverage," tweeted Mrs Odinga.
Mrs Kenyatta, in her keynote speech, asked well-wishers and the UN to boost healthcare campaigns in the country, adding that her Beyond Zero initiative has helped reduce maternal deaths.
"When I stepped into the role of being First Lady, it allowed me to start thinking about how this position could make a difference and change the course of our country’s future in the health arena. "No woman should die giving life’, became my clarion call for action," she said.
"I ran marathons – full and half marathons to raise funds, raise awareness and position @BeyondZeroKenya as an initiative that citizens, and private sector partnerships could align for the well-being of mothers and children ," added the First Lady.
In December last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta visited Raila Odinga's home in Bondo, where he laid a wreath at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga's grave. Notably, it was his first visit to the home of the man who served as his father's first Vice President in 1963.
Thereafter, Uhuru's younger brother, Muhoho Kenyatta, visited the Oginga's in February during the 25th anniversary of the former Vice President. The two families agreed to work together last year in March.
While Jaramogi became a fierce critic of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Raila Odinga on his part has been given President Uhuru Kenyatta headache since 2013 before the two agreed to reconcile.
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