Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s widow, Ida Odinga, has appealed for forgiveness from anyone who may have been wronged by her late husband.
Speaking at her Opoda Farm home in Bondo on Thursday evening, Ida said she was taking the opportunity to respond to those making insensitive remarks about Raila, who died on October 15, 2025, in India.
“In case my husband annoyed you or did something wrong that you did not like, I beg you to forgive him because he is gone. I ask this on his behalf,” she said.
Ida, who was hosting a delegation led by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, said it was in Raila’s nature to forgive and move on.
“He is already gone. He is with his Maker, with Christ, with God. He is not here. I think his spirit is looking down and wondering why people are crying. This is a good place. I am sure that if there are people who will go to a good place, it is Raila because of his good deeds here,” she said.
She urged political leaders to uphold Raila’s vision of unity and work together for the country’s progress.
“I will ask my brother—Raila used to call him ‘my brother Steve’—to carry the country, not just the Kamba community. You have shown that today, not everyone who came here is Kamba. We are one people and must work as one,” Ida said.
She thanked Kalonzo for standing with the family during the mourning period and for his gesture of delivering 100 head of cattle to Bondo.
“My big brother, Kalonzo Musyoka, thank you so much. Your actions speak louder than words. I also want to thank you for coming to mourn your brother. I thought my ears deceived me when he said there were 100 cows; I had to call Hon. Orengo to confirm. He showed us his cows,” she said.
Ida also urged Kenyans, particularly the youth, to shun violence and avoid being used for political conflicts.
“In politics, there are no enemies. Don’t think that someone in a different party is your enemy. Don’t make yourselves tools, especially young people, to fight those you perceive to be in the wrong party. You will be hurting each other for nothing because today they are in different parties, tomorrow they may be in the same one,” she said.
“The most important thing is to fight for democracy in our country. I am not a politician; I am a teacher. Let us fight for democracy for all Kenyans.”
During the visit, Kalonzo presented Raila Odinga Jr. with an arrow, bow, and shield in Kenyan flag colours, symbolically entrusting him with the responsibility of defending and protecting his father’s homestead.
