Winnie Odinga, the daughter of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, delivered an emotional and spirited tribute to her father, describing him as both “Dad and superhero”  a man whose love, wit, and courage shaped her life.

“I don’t know who I’ll miss more — my Dad or my superhero,” she began, her voice breaking as mourners listened in silence.

“I am the luckiest girl in the world because you were my Dad. Only three other human beings were as lucky as me Fidel, Rozzy and Junior.”

Winnie described her father as a steady light “unyielding and deeply human” whose presence commanded attention wherever he went.

“To the world, you were known by many names,” she said. “You even gave almost everyone you met a nickname too. But to me, you were simply Dad a man whose presence froze rooms around the world.”

She fondly recalled their home life, which she described as “the vitendawili testing ground,” where Raila would challenge his children with trivia and riddles that kept their minds sharp.

“Our home was filled with quizzes that tested us in a good way… sometimes,” she said with a small smile.

Winnie said she laughed when she learned of her father’s final wish to be buried within 72 hours of his passing.

“When I learnt that you willed to be buried in 72 hours, I laughed,” she said. “Good old Dad! Testing and planning for us beyond the grave. I can see you now, laughing in your heaving manner, knowing your wish will be done.”

Turning to mourners, Winnie said her father had instilled in her and in the nation lessons on leadership, justice, and patriotism.

“I learned from him that love for country is not just in words, but in sacrifice,” she said. “That justice must be pursued even when the path is lonely. That true leadership is service  not power.

She urged Kenyans not to despair, saying her father had prepared them for this moment.

“Millions of you are in despair, but take heart,” she said. “He left a plan for you too. He led all of us, he taught us, he carried us — we know what he expects from all of us, and we shall rise together in his honour.”

Winnie remembered her father as a man of deep humility and resilience, who faced both victory and defeat with the same grace.

“I watched him at his best. I watched him fall and rise again each time with grace, forgiveness, and hope,” she said. “He taught us that defeat is not failure, that conviction is not arrogance, and that peace is always greater than pride.”

At home, she said, Raila was gentle, humorous, and deeply family-oriented — a storyteller who adored his grandchildren and made time for them even during national duties.

“Ask his grandchildren in the front,” she said, smiling through her tears. “I started getting sidelined for holidays. I’d just wake up and see Baba in Kasarani with Saphie, or Malindi with Senayi, or insisting the captain must land the plane with Laiyon at the cockpit.”

“He loved Saphie, Allay, Senayi, Laiyon and Jara with all his heart,” she added. “Even in the busiest moments of national duty, he would send me to check on all of you to remind us to stay grounded, to dream boldly, and to always stand firm for what is right.”

As she concluded, Winnie said she would forever cherish both the leader and the father she knew — her greatest loss and her eternal inspiration.

“Today, as we celebrate his life, I choose to remember not only the leader the world knew, but the father I loved with every fibre of my being,” she said.

“The biggest part of me died on October 15, 2025, but the spirit of the lion roars on forever. The King is dead — but long live the crown.”

The solemn convoy, led by military outriders and a ceremonial gun carriage, transported the remains of the late statesman through the streets of Nairobi in a display of national reverence rarely seen for a political figure.

The thunderous cheers that greeted the cortege at Nyayo Stadium reflected the deep affection and respect Kenyans held for the man fondly known as Baba.

The ceremony mirrored the pomp and precision of presidential events.

As the gun carriage made its way around the stadium, the crowd waved flags and orange ribbons, the signature colour of his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, chanting songs that celebrated his decades-long struggle for democracy and justice.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday lightened the sombre mood at Nyayo Stadium as he recalled the humorous and reflective moments, he once shared with the late Raila Odinga even as he mourned him as a brother, friend, and patriot.

Speaking during Raila Odinga’s state funeral at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, October 17, he recalled casual talks with Raila about their forefathers Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and other fallen heroes of the country and region, during which they would wonder if their forefathers were watching them and what they thought about them.

“Sometimes after work, when we’d relax a bit, we would be given a small something there. You’re laughing? By ‘a small something,’ I mean porridge and tea.”

“We would talk about our fathers who had passed away, wondering if they were watching us and what they might be saying. Now I know you are with them, talking to our old men,” Uhuru said.

While jokingly clarifying that he was in no rush to join the forefathers, he revealed he finds comfort knowing Raila is now with them in a better place.

“Now, my friend, now that you have gone ahead of me there, I know you all talk to each other there. Not that I’m in a hurry to come and join you there, I still want to rest a bit, may God help us. I know when our time comes, you will be there to show us the way and the roads there. May God have mercy and rest your soul.”

The crowd responded with laughter and applause before falling back into silence as Uhuru’s tone turned deeply emotional.

“My heart is heavy, and my spirit is burdened with a grief that is both profound and deeply personal,” he said.

“The news of Raila’s passing has left a silence that echoes across our nation a silence where once there was a voice of thunder and conviction.”

Uhuru described Raila as a man who shaped Kenya’s political story not just as a rival, but as a partner in nation-building.

“Raila and I were navigators on opposing currents, charting different courses for the nation we both loved,” he said. “At some point along that journey, we became political opponents. The competition was tough, but from it came respect and a shared patriotism.”

Uhuru also eulogised Raila as a beacon of peace, democracy and human rights in Kenya.

Uhuru added that no account of the country’s history would be complete without mentioning Raila at the forefront.

“Our history in this country is not complete without Raila as number one,” he said as he urged Kenyans to maintain the ideals of Raila for eternity.

In his speech, Uhuru described Raila as a leader who remained close to the people and embraced all Kenyans equally.

“Raila Odinga was never tribal; he loved all the people of Kenya.This is evident in the friendships he built across the country. Raila valued you for your thoughts and words not because of the colour of your skin,” he said

“Raila has left us in body but in our spirits and in the spirit of Kenya, he will live for years to come.”

Uhuru also offered his condolences to Raila’s family, led by his widow, Mama Ida Odinga, and their children, Rosemary, Junior, and Winnie.

He added that he would now take care of them in Raila’s absence.

“I have come to mourn a friend and a brother,” he said. “Even in our sadness, let’s take the opportunity to appreciate Mama Ida and the family. To Kenyans, I say thank you for giving us Raila.”

Mama Ida Odinga, widow of the late opposition leader Raila Odinga, has offered mourners a deeply personal glimpse into her family life by sharing the stories behind the names of her four children.

Speaking on Friday at Nyayo Stadium, she revealed how each name carried with it history, memory, and meaning — reflecting not just family ties, but also the political struggles and global influences that shaped their lives.

Ida, who was married to Raila for 52 years, began by recounting how their firstborn son came to be named Fidel Castro Odhiambo Odinga.

She admitted that at first, she was hesitant about the name.

“When he was born, I was a bit unsure about the way Raila wanted to name him. I asked, Why Fidel?” she said.

Raila explained that he greatly admired the Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, whose defiance and resilience resonated with his own ideals.

“That is how we ended up calling him Fidel,” she said, a decision that reflected Raila’s admiration for figures who challenged oppression.

The couple’s second child was their daughter, Rosemary Odinga. Ida explained that her name was carefully chosen to honour both sides of the family.

“Rose is the name of my father, and Mary is the name of his mother,” she said.

Combining the two names was symbolic — an act of weaving together her lineage and Raila’s, ensuring that both families remained central in their children’s identity.

“It also has a deep meaning,” she added, underscoring how names can serve as bridges across generations.

When it came to their third child, Raila Odinga Jr, Ida said his name was rooted in love and friendship.

He was named after Raila’s cousin and best friend, Raila Kembo, with whom he shared not only a name but also a close bond.

“He named him after his cousin,” Ida explained.

In this case, the name carried both family pride and continuity, echoing the legacy of their father and grandfather, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

Ida became particularly animated when recalling the birth of her youngest child, Winnie Odinga.

She described the moment vividly, taking mourners back to February 1990, when South African freedom icon Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years.

Ida, then in labour, was in the hospital ward watching live television coverage of Mandela’s historic walk to freedom. Beside him was his wife, Winnie Mandela.

“As I was watching the TV, I could see Nelson and Winnie Mandela holding hands as Mandela walked out of prison,” she recalled.

“We didn’t know what kind of child I would get, but I said, if it’s a boy, we would name him Nelson, and if it’s a girl, Winnie.”

That moment of history intertwined with her family’s own, and so the Odingas’ youngest daughter was named Winnie.

Reflecting on these stories, Ida urged young parents to give their children names that carry meaning.

“I know these days you can name your child any name you want, but I appeal to those with children: give your child a meaningful name,” she said.

She also reflected on her long marriage to Raila.

“We got married in 1973 and lived with this man for 52 years,” she said.

“Many people here in this stadium could easily have been our children. No wonder you called him Baba. The name didn’t come from nowhere, but from the experience and relationship we had with so many people.”

In sharing these stories, Ida not only paid tribute to her late husband but also underscored the values of family, memory, and legacy that guided the Odinga household.

Rosemary Odinga, daughter of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has shared a personal account of the moment she learnt about her father’s passing. 

Speaking on Friday, October 17, Rosemary recounted the confusion and disbelief that followed the devastating call from her brother, Raila Odinga Jr.

“I remember the day I received the message. I was seated on the table, just finished my breakfast, and then my brother Raila Odinga Jr. called me, and he asked me where I was. And I told him, I’m seated at the table. And then he asked me to sit down.

“And I asked myself, do I sit on the floor, or on the table, or the seat at the table is good enough? I was so confused. But then Junior then told me that our father was no longer with us,” she said.

Rosemary went on to express the enduring pain her family continues to experience since the passing of their father, describing how his absence has left a profound void in their lives.

“Until today, it is still very difficult. It is very difficult for us to feel like a family. And today, we are here to pray for Kenya and the rest of the world. I want to say thank you very much,” she added.

The moment, she said, was shattering — one that left her struggling to comprehend life without the man who had been her guide, mentor, and confidant.

“Today is a very painful day for me,” she said.

“And I know it is painful for all of you as well. But we as a family have come to mourn together, and we will continue to stand together.”

Rosemary went on to describe her father as a man of deep integrity, compassion, and wisdom.

While millions across the country called him “Baba,” to her and her siblings, he was a loving father, husband, and grandfather who found time for family despite his heavy public duties.

“You were my confidant, my adviser, and my dear friend,” she said, calling Raila her greatest teacher and compass in life.

She remembered how her father offered guidance without dictating, often teaching by example.

“You had a way of sharing advice and lessons without making them sound like lectures,” she said.

“You taught me to sharpen my ideas, to think deeply, to question, and to stand firm for what I believe in.”

Rosemary also praised Raila’s compassion and open-mindedness, saying he inspired not only their family but an entire generation.

“Through your example, I learned forgiveness — that healing comes not from holding on, but from letting go and choosing peace. You lived your truth with openness and tolerance, reminding us that Kenya’s strength is in her many voices.”

Concluding her tribute, Rosemary promised to uphold her father’s legacy and live by the values he instilled in her.

“I will forever honour your legacy. I will carry your memories and values with me and promise to live a life that will make you proud. Everything I do, I will do it for you. Your memory will forever be my treasure. Until we meet again.”

Her moving eulogy drew chants from many in the audience, capturing the personal grief of a daughter and the collective mourning of a nation bidding farewell to one of its greatest sons.

The Right Reverend Prof. David Kodia delivered a scathing rebuke to corrupt politicians during the State Funeral of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, declaring that anyone who has looted the country is condemned.

Bishop Kodia’s words energized the thousands gathered, challenging leaders who exploit power for personal gain and highlighting the legacy of a leader who served Kenya selflessly.

In a powerful sermon that drew applause from mourners, Bishop Kodia did not mince his words as he called out leaders at all levels who have enriched themselves at the expense of the public.

“When we’re proclaiming the Word, we should not be fearful. Word proclaimed must have the power to transform, to make us renewed in our strength in the liberation of our country from those who are looting everything from us, from the country level to everywhere,” he declared, prompting applause and cheers.

He warned any official who has misused public office, saying, “If there’s anyone here, at whatever level, be a governor, MCA, who has looted this country, you know you stand the chance to be condemned.”

The bishop’s remarks contrasted Raila’s legacy of integrity with the current culture of corruption that has plagued Kenya’s political landscape.

Bishop Kodia used the occasion to highlight the values that Raila embodied throughout his political career, urging Kenyans to reflect on the qualities that made him a beloved leader.

“So, when we are talking about a person of the stature of Raila Amollo Odinga, we are seeing in him those strains of justice which are yet to be won. We are seeing in him those strains of peace which are yet to be achieved. We are seeing in him the strains of reconciliation, which we have yet to see. We are seeing Kenyanhood in him as being at the centre of everything else,” he said.

In another pointed criticism, Bishop Kodia lamented the degradation of political culture in Kenya, contrasting it with Raila’s approach to leadership.

“The question is how do we apply the power to proclaim what God has given us for the good of the nation, of humanity. Baba is one such politician who never used the power of money to intimidate people. Today, we have bad manners among our politicians. They have taught our people the culture of handouts that whatever you want, you must part with money and woe unto those who drive big vehicles, you’re in big trouble,” he said.

Raila was praised for his reliance on persuasion rather than money.

“Baba never used the power of his wallet as a convincing tool to others, but he used the power of persuasion. He used the power of the word. Let’s allow ourselves to be used by God so that the power He gave us is the power that is correcting, reconciling and rebuking what is evil.”

Bishop Kodia concluded his sermon with a blessing, urging Kenyans to honor Raila’s memory by embracing the values he stood for.

“How many can fit in the shoes of Raila Odinga today? How many? May God bless you all. May God lift you up as we bid farewell to Baba. In the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” he said.

The crowd responded with a standing ovation, waving Kenyan flags in tribute to the late leader.

His remarks came as President William Ruto, First Lady Rachel Ruto, Cabinet Secretaries, governors, and other political leaders attended the State Funeral.

The State Funeral, held on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Nyayo National Stadium, drew thousands of mourners and dignitaries worldwide. The Odinga family, led by Mama Ida Odinga and Dr. Oburu Oginga, was alongside Raila’s children to witness the nation’s tribute to their departed patriarch.

Foreign dignitaries, including Ethiopian President Taye Atsé Selassie, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, paid their respects to the fallen leader, highlighting his stature as a Pan-African figure.

Leaders from the united opposition, governors from across the country, and members of the diplomatic corps attended the ceremony, reflecting the broad reach of Raila’s political career and personal relationships.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s elder brother, Dr. Oburu Oginga, lightened the mood during the leader’s State Funeral at Nyayo Stadium on Friday, October 17, 2025, with a humorous introduction of his two wives that drew laughter from thousands of mourners.

In a moment that provided brief comic relief during an otherwise somber occasion, Oburu introduced his wives with characteristic wit and candor.

“This is the lady who took me out of boyhood. She is a doctor, she is a pediatrician, and she is the one with whom we grew up together, but I thought that now at my age I don’t want her to scratch me, I don’t want her to massage me, so I brought her helper, Judith Oburu,” Oburu said.

He introduced Judith Oburu, noting that she works with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and is a professional accountant.

Beyond the humor, Oburu delivered a profoundly moving tribute to his younger brother, revealing intimate details of their childhood and the special bond they shared throughout their lives.

“Raila was more than a brother to me. He was my friend, he was my age mate, he was my advisor, and he was my confidant, and he was everything, including a business partnership. We grew up together more or less as twins because the difference between me and my brother is only one year and two months,” Oburu said.

In a poignant revelation, Oburu disclosed that Raila passed away on his birthday, October 15.

“Unfortunately my brother passed on on my birthday which is 15th October,” he said, adding an extra layer of personal loss to the tragedy.

Oburu painted a vivid picture of their childhood in Bondo, Sakwa, where they learned valuable life skills from their grandmother.

“When we were growing up together with my brother, we were in Bondo in Sakwa, though we were born in Maseno, but during that time, we were only three boys, and our mother was a disciplinarian more than our father. But my brother Raila knew how to cook. Our father’s mother told us that ‘you my boys, you are also my girls. You must learn to fetch firewood, you must learn to cook, you must learn to prepare everything, including washing clothes and ironing, and so on,” Oburu recalled.

In a significant political announcement, Oburu revealed that the ODM party has appointed him as acting party leader following Raila’s death.

“I want to thank my party, ODM, for making me the acting party leader of ODM, the oldest and the largest party in East and Central Africa. I will take that mantle with vigor and assure you, my colleagues, that I will not disappoint. Even though Raila’s shoes are too big,” he declared.