
The Family of ODM leader Raila Odinga during the State Funeral at Nyayo Stadium./EZEKIEL AMING'A
The family of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday eulogised him as a fierce defender of his family, a confidant and the best husband, father, brother and grandfather one could ever wish for.
The late democracy icon received a moving tribute during the State Funeral Service at Nyayo National Stadium from his widow Ida Odinga, children Rosemary, Raila Junior and Winnie, together with his brother, Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga.
They described Raila as a forgiving figure, a peacemaker and a hero whom the family will dearly miss.
Ida remembered Raila as a loving husband and father and an honest and peaceful man, who abhorred unfairness and dishonesty.
“I first met Raila in the 1970s. We got married in 1973 and I have lived with him for 52 years,” Ida said.
“Most of the people in this ground could easily be our children.”
Ida described Raila as not just a husband but a partner, confidant and her greatest supporter who stood by her side throughout their marriage.
“Losing
you feels like losing a pillar — the foundation of strength for us all. Your
love wrapped us, protected us and your unwavering commitment to Kenya was
evident until your very last breath,” she said.
Ida recounted their journey together through joyous and difficult times, including Raila’s eight-year detainment without charge or trial.
“Our life was not all smooth. There were ups and downs. But as we lived together, we learnt to cope. We learnt to talk straight to one another, forgive and move on,” she said.
Speaking with nostalgia and emotion, she urged Kenyans to honour Raila’s memory by remaining peaceful, saying he valued peace and detested corruption.
“Raila hated dishonesty. He hated greed—the greed in our society, stealing from public coffers and corruption,” Ida said.
Rosemary, Raila’s eldest daughter, described her father as a loving dad, a devoted husband to her mother and a doting grandfather to her daughters.
“You were a family man of unparalleled integrity. Through your example, I learnt forgiveness—that healing comes not from holding on, but from letting go and choosing peace,” she said.
Rosemary said her father taught her to appreciate diversity and embrace those who saw the world differently.
“Raila lived his truth with openness and tolerance, reminding us that Kenya’s strength lies in her many voices. I will forever honour your legacy. I will carry your memories and values and I promise to live a life that will make you proud,” Rosemary said.
Raila Junior said while many saw his father as a political icon, to him and his siblings, he was simply “Dad”.
“He embodied resilience, courage and an unwavering commitment to freedom and justice. He always stood for what he believed was right—sometimes at great personal and family cost. He was my hero and his legacy lives on in me, my siblings, and all those whose lives he touched,” he said.
Junior said he would deeply miss their family moments and conversations.
“I will miss watching Arsenal with you. I will miss making new memories, but I will forever treasure those we shared. I thank God for you and for everything you have meant to me,” he said.
Winnie Odinga, who was with her father in India when he passed away during a morning walk, dismissed social media reports that Raila had collapsed.
“Every day. He would wake up and take a walk, and every day he would do one round, then the next two rounds,” she said.
On the day he passed away, his daughter said, Raila appeared stronger than usual.
“That day he took five rounds,” she recounted, emphasising that her father faced his final moments full of strength and vitality.
Her father’s passing was not one of weakness, but one of courage and honour, she said.
“He
died strong, and with dignity and with pride,” Winnie said.
“You must be proud of that.”
She described Raila as “a light—steady, unyielding, and deeply human.”
“Our home was a vitendawili [riddles] testing ground, filled with trivia and quizzes that challenged the four of us—in a good way, sometimes,” she said with a smile.
“To my fellow mourners, I learnt from him that love for country is not just in words, but in sacrifice—that justice must be pursued even when the path is lonely.”
Elder brother Oburu Odinga recounted growing up with Raila in Bondo, sharing memories of their early life and the lessons they learnt.
“We grew up together like twins, even though I was older,” Oburu said.
“When we were growing up in Bondo, we were only three boys. Our mother told us we must learn to cook, fetch firewood, and iron clothes—and Raila knew how to do all that,” he said.
The Siaya senator described Raila as a bright student who excelled in school and maintained top positions throughout his education.
“My
brother loved justice from the beginning,” Oburu said. “He championed fairness
and entertained no mediocrity.”