Ida Odinga and her daughter Winnie Odinga place a wreath at the grave of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on October 19, 2025./MAURICE ALAL
Ida Odinga, the widow of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, on Monday morning visited her husband’s grave to pay her respects and pray.
She spent a quiet moment at the site before returning to her residence at Opoda Farm in Bondo under tight security.
Her visit came as mourners continued streaming into Kang’o Ka Jaramogi to pay their respects to the late opposition leader, who was buried next to his mother, Mary Ajuma, on Sunday in a private ceremony.
According to Luo Council of Elders chairman Ruoth Ogai James Ayaga, Ida’s visit follows Luo mourning traditions.
“A widow is required to mourn the husband every morning for a period of four days after cleaning the grave before she can go back to other normal duties,” Ayaga explained.
He said cleaning the grave is an important part of the mourning ritual as it symbolically sets the widow free.
“It is expected or required that the widow should be mourning her late husband every morning,” he added.
Ayaga noted that under strict observation of the customs, the widow would sit by the graveside to receive mourners. Traditionally, both the widow and sons would be shaved as part of the mourning rites, though this practice has changed over time.
“The widow can just invite her salonist to have a slight haircut instead of shaving the entire head,” Ayaga said.
Security has been heightened at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi as mourners continue to visit the grave of the man many Kenyans regarded as a symbol of hope, resilience, and liberation.
On Sunday, shortly after Raila’s burial, a section of mourners invaded the burial site, destroying wreaths and taking away some of them before police intervened.
Despite the incident, thousands have continued to visit Bondo to honour Raila’s memory, marking the beginning of a four-day traditional mourning period for his widow and family.
During the State Funeral service of Raila on Sunday, Mama Ida Odinga said it never once crossed her mind that she would one day have to bury her husband.
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.
