Tom Mboya wedded Pamela Odede in an epic wedding ceremony held on on the eve of Keny’s independence on 20th January 1962 at All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi. It was dubbed “ wedding of the year”. Studded with VIPs among them Sir Frederick Edward Kabaka Mutesa the King of Buganda and the first president of Uganda, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Sir Patrick Renison the governor of Kenya.
Pamela and Tom Mboya’s Wedding Reception
The reception was held at Charter hall which was fully packed forcing governor Renison to use the back door to avoid pushing and shoving.
In his speech to the newlywed the governor said “My wife and i are very happy to be here on the occasion which sets Tom and his wife on a life which maybe of great importance to the country.”
Nearly 1000 congratulatory messages from leaders around the world were read at the reception, from Pope XXIII who sent his blessings, the Aga Khan and Mwalimu Julius Nyerere sent their regrets for being unable to attend.
The most original message came from the Royal East African Navy who informed the groom that he “could have been married at sea without all the fuss.”
“I do not feel this is an opportunity for a long speech from Mboya the politician.” Mboya explained amid applause from the 2000 guests at the reception .
He concluded his speech saying: “Iam here strictly in my capacity as a new husband.”
The bride and the groom flew to Israel for their 10 day honeymoon where he also used the opportunity to hold talks with Israel government officials and labor groups.
At the end of honeymoon, Tom kissed his new wife Pamela goodbye then boarded a plane at Lydia airport Tel Aviv for London to join other leaders at the Lancaster constitutional conference.
During the conference Mboya quickly jetted across the Atlantic to address the annual Brotherhood Banquet in Chicago USA before rushing back to London to continue with the conference.
Article contributed by Odhiambo Levin Opiyo, a journalist based in London