In a deeply emotional farewell, Mama Ida Odinga stood before mourners on Sunday at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, her voice steady but weighted with grief. Before thousands gathered to bid farewell to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, she began simply — with gratitude to God, even amid heartbreak.
“I never imagined that this would fall on me — to lead the family and the world in burying Raila. I hoped it would be the other way round,” she said softly, pausing as the crowd listened in solemn silence. Then came the words that would define her tribute: “With pain, without lamentation, I accept the will of God.”
Dressed in black, with a wide-brimmed hat that shadowed her face, Ida’s composure reflected both strength and grace — the hallmarks of her five-decade partnership with one of Africa’s most consequential political figures.
She thanked Kenyans, regional neighbours, and friends abroad for standing with the family, and expressed deep appreciation to President William Ruto for what she called “a dignified send-off.”
“Mr President, my family is grateful to you for being a man of your word and a man who stands with friends after committing to do so,” she said, drawing applause from the audience.
Her gratitude extended to former President Uhuru Kenyatta, whom she described as “a true friend who has consistently stood with us.”
A Life Shared — and Tested
Reflecting on their early years, Ida smiled as she told mourners that when she married Raila, politics was the last thing on her mind.
“At the University of Nairobi, my friends and I had agreed we would only marry calm, professional men — engineers and doctors,” she recalled to laughter. “I was the first to marry — an engineer, a man of calm demeanour and reflective character. They all congratulated me. Little did I know I was marrying a political engineer who would proceed to make engineering of Kenya his lifelong project.”
Her words captured both humour and heart — a rare, human glimpse into the private life of a man who spent much of his life in the public eye.
Over 54 years of marriage, Ida said, her understanding of politics — and sacrifice — evolved. “If I had another chance, I would still marry Raila,” she declared, her voice firm.
She described him as “a passionate family man” who, despite the weight of national duties, “always made time for his wife and children.” Then, with a wry smile, she added, “I think the next person after loving me, the other person that he loves — leave alone his children — is Dr Oburu,” referring fondly to Raila’s elder brother and confidant, Dr Oburu Oginga.
Love, Forgiveness, and Endurance
Ida spoke candidly about the strains of a life lived in the political storm. “Juggling family and public life exerted extreme pressure and demands on us,” she said. “Most of the time, Raila was more in political life than in family life. But every time he came home, he gave us what we deserved.”
She admitted their marriage had faced its share of challenges but said dialogue and forgiveness had carried them through. “We learned that love endures when it listens,” she said.
Her eulogy ended not with tears, but with quiet assurance. “He is never coming back, but the spirit lives on,” she said — a final testament to a partnership that weathered prison cells, exile, and power, bound together by faith and resilience.