Mama Ida Odinga has recounted the painful moment she learnt of her husband Raila Odinga’s death, revealing that their daughter, Winnie Odinga, delivered the devastating news after doctors failed to resuscitate the former Prime Minister.
Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Wednesday, October 14, as Kenya marked one year since Raila’s death, Ida described the final moments as a deeply distressing experience that she continues to struggle to come to terms with.
Ida said she initially tried to reach Ruth Odinga before calling Winnie, who was also present when the incident occurred.
“I could not get Ruth, so I called Winnie, who was also there, and Winnie told me he was taking a walk and he collapsed, but they are trying to resuscitate him,” she recalled.
According to Ida, Winnie informed her that efforts were underway to save her father and that he was being taken to the intensive care unit (ICU).
The family matriarch said she remained hopeful as she waited for further updates, with Winnie promising to keep her informed about the situation.
However, the situation took a devastating turn barely 10 minutes later when Winnie called again with the news that the family had lost Raila.
“Ten minutes later, Winnie calls me and tells me, ‘We’ve lost the battle.’ She said Dad is gone, and that is how I received the news. It was not easy,” Ida said.
The account offers a personal glimpse into the moment the Odinga family learnt of the death of one of Kenya’s most influential political figures, whose career spanned decades and shaped the country’s political landscape.
Ida Opens Up About Life Without Raila
Beyond the circumstances surrounding his death, Ida spoke candidly about the difficulty of adjusting to life without her husband, saying his absence continues to feel unreal.
She explained that Raila’s habit of returning home late had become part of their daily routine, making it difficult for her to fully accept that he would no longer return.
“It has not been very easy; it has been difficult. Personally, I don’t believe he is gone,” she said.
Ida added that she sometimes finds herself waiting for Raila to return home, only to remember that he is no longer alive.
“When he was here, he would stay and come home late. Every time I go home, I keep on hoping that he is going to come back, and you wait and wait until late hours, then you realize that he is not coming,” she recounted.
Her reflections highlight the personal loss behind the national mourning that followed Raila’s death, revealing how his passing continues to affect his family a year later.
As the country marks the first anniversary of his death, Ida’s account provides a reminder of the grief experienced by those closest to the veteran politician beyond the public tributes and political legacy associated with his name.