Mama Ida Odinga, wife to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has broken her silence following the death of her husband on Wednesday, October 15.
In a brief but poignant message delivered at their Karen home on Wednesday afternoon, Ida acknowledged the shock and grief that has engulfed the nation following the sudden passing of the ODM leader.
Speaking to a gathering of Raila’s supporters, family members, close friends, and well-wishers who had converged at their residence, Mama Ida expressed her condolences to Kenyans grappling with the devastating news.
“I am so sorry. I know you are all shocked. We did not expect that it would happen this way, but it has happened. Be calm,” she said, her voice steady despite the evident pain.
The brief statement reflected both her strength and her understanding of the magnitude of the loss, not just to her family, but to the entire nation that had looked up to her husband as a champion of democracy.
Raila Odinga passed away at the age of 80 on Wednesday morning after experiencing cardiac arrest during a morning walk at an Ayurvedic treatment facility in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, India.
He collapsed and was immediately rushed to a private hospital in Koothattukulam, where medical personnel pronounced him dead at 7:22 am. His remains are currently being held at the hospital.
The news of his death sent shockwaves across Kenya and the African continent, with tributes pouring in from political leaders, civil society, and ordinary citizens who had been touched by his decades-long struggle for democracy and social justice.
Since the news broke, the Odinga family home in Karen has become a pilgrimage site for mourners seeking to pay their respects to the fallen icon.
Leaders from across the political divide have been streaming in to console Mama Ida and the family, including the couple’s children Rosemary, Raila Junior, and Winnie.
Among those who have sent messages of condolence are former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, who described Raila as “more than an enigma” and “a force of nature.”
Kalonzo, who is currently in the United Kingdom, announced he would be rearranging his schedule to honor his fallen brother and political partner.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta also paid tribute to Raila, describing him as a towering statesman and personal friend whose passing had left “a silence that echoes across our nation, a silence where once there was a voice of thunder and conviction.”
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua joined in mourning, calling Raila “the enigma Baba, the father of our democracy and a formidable hero of Kenya’s 2nd liberation,” acknowledging his sacrifices including torture, imprisonment, and detention in the fight for Kenya’s freedom.
