Rosemary Odinga eulogising her father, late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Nyayo Stadium/SCREENGRABRosemary Odinga, the daughter of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, delivered an emotional eulogy during her father’s State Funeral, recalling with deep pain the moment she first learned of his passing.
Speaking before mourners at Nyayo Stadium on Friday, Rosemary described her father as not only a towering national leader but also a devoted family man whose influence shaped her life in countless ways.
In her heartfelt tribute, Rosemary said her younger brother, Raila Odinga Junior, was the one who broke the devastating news to her on the morning of their father’s death.
“I remember I had just finished my breakfast and was seated at the table when Junior called me,” she narrated.
“He asked me where I was, and I told him I was at the table. Then he told me to sit down. I wondered, ‘Do I sit on the table, on the floor? What does he mean?’ I was so confused," she shared.
It was at this moment that she knew something was up, and her brother broke the sad news.
"He then told me our father was no longer with us. Until today, there’s a lot of pain we feel as a family.”
The moment, she said, was shattering — one that left her struggling to comprehend life without the man who had been her guide, mentor, and confidant.
“Today is a very painful day for me,” she said.
“And I know it is painful for all of you as well. But we as a family have come to mourn together, and we will continue to stand together.”
Rosemary went on to describe her father as a man of deep integrity, compassion, and wisdom.
While millions across the country called him “Baba,” to her and her siblings, he was a loving father, husband, and grandfather who found time for family despite his heavy public duties.
“You were my confidant, my adviser, and my dear friend,” she said, calling Raila her greatest teacher and compass in life.
She remembered how her father offered guidance without dictating, often teaching by example.
“You had a way of sharing advice and lessons without making them sound like lectures,” she said.
“You taught me to sharpen my ideas, to think deeply, to question, and to stand firm for what I believe in.”
Rosemary also praised Raila’s compassion and open-mindedness, saying he inspired not only their family but an entire generation.
“Through your example, I learned forgiveness — that healing comes not from holding on, but from letting go and choosing peace. You lived your truth with openness and tolerance, reminding us that Kenya’s strength is in her many voices.”
Concluding her tribute, Rosemary promised to uphold her father’s legacy and live by the values he instilled in her.
“I will forever honour your legacy. I will carry your memories and values with me and promise to live a life that will make you proud. Everything I do, I will do it for you. Your memory will forever be my treasure. Until we meet again.”
Her moving eulogy drew chants from many in the audience, capturing the personal grief of a daughter and the collective mourning of a nation bidding farewell to one of its greatest sons.
