Ida Odinga, the widow of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga,
has urged spouses of politicians to exercise wisdom, restraint, and
understanding in managing their partners’ public relationships.
Speaking during the burial of her husband at the
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Bondo on Sunday,
Ida shared a heartfelt lesson drawn from her decades-long journey beside the
veteran opposition leader.
“To us, the spouses of these politicians down
here, they will tell you the challenges are many and not easy to cope with,”
she said.
“I learned that if you’re a spouse of a politician, inherit his friends, but
don’t inherit his enemies.”
Ida explained that political life often comes
with shifting alliances and rivalries, making it difficult for family members
to understand the dynamics at play.
“Why do I say this? Because you’ll be sitting
there at home, thinking so and so is an enemy of my husband because he belongs
to a different political party or comes from another region,” she said
. “I tell you, you’ll be wrong. Don’t inherit his enemies, because tomorrow
you’ll find that those people you thought were his enemies are his best friends
— and you’ll be left out.”
Her remarks, which drew laughter and applause
from mourners, were part of a deeply personal reflection on her life alongside
Raila, whose political journey spanned more than four decades.
Ida described her husband as a man of
resilience, forgiveness, and an extraordinary ability to build bridges even
with former rivals.
“Be careful when you are handling his
friends,” she advised.
“Inherit his friends, but his enemies, let him deal with them the way he
made them.”
Ida’s message resonated strongly among
dignitaries, political leaders, and thousands of mourners who had gathered to
pay their last respects to the late ODM leader.
Her words captured not only the challenges faced by political families but
also the wisdom she gained from navigating Kenya’s often turbulent political
landscape.
Throughout her speech, Ida emphasized the
importance of peace, tolerance, and unity, values that defined Raila’s
leadership and personal life. She urged Kenyans to honour his memory by
continuing his legacy of reconciliation and national cohesion.
“Raila was not just my husband; he was a friend
to many, even those who once stood against him,” she said.
“That’s the spirit we should all keep, to unite, not to divide.”
As the country bids farewell to Raila Odinga,
Ida’s words served as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between
politics and personal life, and the enduring strength required to walk beside a
leader who belonged to a nation as much as to his family.
