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.
