The phrase "Not Yet Uhuru" was coined by Oginga Odinga to challenge the perceived limitations of Kenyan independence. Published as the title of his 1967 autobiography, the expression reflected his assessment that colonial structures remained pervasive in domestic governance. This central conviction defined his trajectory from a regional leader to a persistent critic of successive administrations.
Early Development and Luo Leadership
Born in 1911 in Nyamira Kang'o, Bondo, he was originally christened Obadiah Adonijah. His education included time at the Maseno School and Makerere University. In 1947, he founded the Luo Thrift and Trading Corporation to promote economic empowerment. His influence within his ethnic group led to him being granted the title of Ker, a traditional leadership position associated with the historical figure Ramogi Ajwang, resulting in the moniker Jaramogi.
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By 1957, he resigned his traditional leadership to enter formal politics as a member of the Legislative Council. He was a foundational figure in the Kenya African National Union and served as Kenya's first Vice-President upon the nation becoming a republic in 1964. His tenure was defined by fundamental disagreements with Jomo Kenyatta regarding foreign policy, specifically his preference for stronger diplomatic ties with China and the Soviet Union rather than the Western bloc.
Opposition and Political Confinement
Following his resignation from the vice-presidency in 1966, he formed the Kenya People's Union. Tensions culminated in 1969 when he was arrested following violent riots during a presidential visit to Kisumu. He remained in detention for eighteen months. Throughout the following decades, he navigated periods of house arrest and political prohibition, culminating in his 1991 role as interim chairman of the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy.
Final Years
In the 1992 elections, he sought the presidency as the candidate for Ford-Kenya, securing 17.5 percent of the vote and regaining a seat in the National Assembly. Beyond domestic politics, he participated in international efforts to draft a world constitution for the Federation of Earth. He died in 1994 at the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu and is interred at his home in Bondo.
Fast facts
- Born: 1911, Bondo
- Died: 1994, Nairobi
- Vice-President of Kenya: 1964–1966
- Political Party Founder: Kenya People's Union, FORD
- Education: Makerere University, Maseno School
- Notable Title: Jaramogi
- Autobiography: Not Yet Uhuru (1967)
- Place of Burial: Bondo
Questions readers ask
What did Jaramogi Oginga Odinga mean by Not Yet Uhuru?
The phrase referenced his belief that Kenyan independence from British colonialism had not resulted in true freedom due to ongoing political oppression.
Why did he resign from the vice-presidency?
He diverged from Jomo Kenyatta’s government regarding alignment with the Western bloc, instead advocating for stronger relations with the Soviet Union and China.
Achievements
- Vice-President of Kenya (1964–1966)
- Member of the National Assembly
- Member of the Legislative Council of Kenya
- Educated at Makerere University and Maseno School
