Mama Ida Odinga during the funeral service of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University in Bondo, October 19, 2025. /ENOS TECHE
Mama Ida Odinga has said it never once crossed her mind that she would one day have to bury her husband, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Speaking during Raila’s final funeral service at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology on Sunday, Ida said she had always believed it would be the other way around.
Dressed in a black dress and a matching flowing hat, Mama Ida began her eulogy by acknowledging God’s goodness even amid immense pain.
She then thanked Kenyans, regional neighbours, and the international community for joining the family in mourning the iconic political leader — before delivering her most emotional moment.
“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.
Even so, Mama Ida said she had accepted God’s decision.
“With pain, without lamentation, I accept the will of God,” she declared.
She went on to thank President William Ruto and the government for according Raila a dignified send-off, saying it was the first time the Nyanza region had witnessed an event of such magnitude.
“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.
She also expressed appreciation to former President Uhuru Kenyatta, describing him as a true friend who had consistently stood with the family.
Recalling her youth, Ida told mourners that when she married Raila, politics was the last thing on her mind. She and her friends at the University of Nairobi had vowed to marry only calm, professional men — engineers and doctors.
“Out of my group, I was the first to marry. I married an engineer, a man of calm demeanour and reflective character. They all congratulated me because of that. Little did I know I was marrying a political engineer who would proceed to make engineering of Kenya his lifelong project,” she said, drawing cheers from the crowd.
After 54 years of marriage, Ida said her view of politics had changed completely, and that if given another chance, she would still marry Raila — even knowing in advance he was destined to be a politician.
She described Raila as a passionate family man who always made time for his wife and children despite the pressures of public life.
“I think the next person after loving me, the other person that he loves — leave alone his children — is Dr Oburu,” she said, referring to Raila’s elder brother and confidant, Dr Oburu Oginga.
Ida acknowledged that their marriage, like any other, had its share of ups and downs, but they had learned that dialogue and forgiveness were key to harmony.
“Juggling family and public life exerted extreme pressure and demands on us from time to time. I know 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 said.
She concluded by reflecting on Raila’s turbulent political journey — from detention to exile — saying she would forever cherish his spirit.
“He is never coming back, but the spirit lives on,” she said.
