The widow of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Mama Ida Odinga, delivered a heartfelt tribute during his State Funeral Service at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi, on Friday, October 17. In her moving speech, she reflected on their 52 years of marriage, describing Raila as a devoted husband, visionary leader, and patriot whose legacy will live on.
Ida recounted meeting Raila in the early 1970s before marrying him in 1973 a union that would endure through decades of political storms, detentions, and triumphs. “I first met Raila way back in the early 70s, and we got married in 1973. For that reason, I’ve lived with this man for 52 years. Many of the people in this stadium could easily be our children; no wonder you call him Baba,” she said, drawing warm applause from the crowd.
She went on to share intimate stories about how they named their four children Fidel, Rosemary, Raila Junior, and Winnie each inspired by heroes and family ties. “There’s nothing wrong with giving names of people who we think are heroes,” she noted with a smile.
Ida also echoed Raila’s lifelong message of unity and integrity. “One thing he kept saying to me is that we must urge Kenyans to live in peace. Raila hated dishonesty; he hated greed that leads to corruption,” she said.
Despite the challenges they faced, Mama Ida described their marriage as one grounded in truth, forgiveness, and resilience. “Our lives were not a smooth ride… but we learned to talk straight truth to one another, forgive, and move on,” she said, urging Kenyans to emulate those values.
“Please don’t carry grudges from one generation to another. We must learn to forgive easily,” she concluded — a poignant reminder of love, peace, and the enduring spirit of “Baba.”
