EALA MP Winnie Odinga gave guests a lighter moment during her mother Ida Odinga’s 76th birthday celebration after jokingly introducing her dog as her “partner”.
The celebration took place at the Odinga family’s Karen residence, where relatives, friends and close associates gathered to mark Ida’s milestone. The occasion carried emotional significance as it was her first birthday since the death of her husband, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Winnie took the microphone during the gathering to celebrate her mother and acknowledge her strength following the loss of Raila. However, the mood changed when her white Chihuahua unexpectedly walked onto the podium and stayed beside her.
Instead of sending the dog away, Winnie turned the interruption into a humorous moment. She introduced the Chihuahua as her “partner”, drawing laughter from guests and easing the emotional atmosphere during the family celebration.
The joke also touched on an issue Winnie has discussed publicly over the years: her relationship status. The EALA lawmaker has previously spoken about being single and maintained that she does not want to enter marriage simply because of pressure from society.
Winnie has also discussed expectations surrounding relationships, marriage and children. She has maintained that finding a partner should involve genuine affection and commitment rather than simply meeting social or family expectations.
Her playful moment at Ida’s birthday celebration therefore offered a different side of the family gathering. For a brief period, the Chihuahua became the centre of attention after Winnie humorously gave it the title of her “partner”, leaving guests entertained.