At her family home in Bondo, Siaya County, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s widow, Mama Ida Odinga, has spoken candidly about the profound emotional toll her husband’s death has taken on her and their family.
Speaking to a gathering of hundreds of widows who came to console the family under the aegis of the Widows Voices Ministry, Ida described her husband’s passing as unexpected and deeply shocking.
She noted that although he had travelled to India for treatment, the family had believed his condition was routine and expected that he would recover and return home.
“Whatever has happened that brings you here was very unfortunate; nobody expected it. Particularly I didn’t expect it. I didn’t see any sign, I didn’t see any sign that could have alerted me that Raila would probably leave,” she said.
Ida recalled that in the days leading up to his death, her husband displayed no obvious signs of a terminal decline.
The fact that he died while undergoing treatment in India added to the sense of shock for the family, there was no farewell and no final communication.
“He left me without a word,” she lamented.
She also reflected on her new status as a widow something she says she never imagined happening to her at this stage of life.
“It surprises me when people start referring to me as Raila’s widow because I didn’t know that at this age I would be baptised with a new name that I am now a widow of Raila,” she said.
During the event, Ida thanked the widows from across the region who had gathered to offer comfort to her and her family.
She asked to be enrolled in the group of widows, acknowledging the support network she will lean on as she navigates life without her lifelong partner.
“I know I have a big, strong group of widows who will be by my side. I’m happy you have this group; now plan to enrol me into this group,” she added.
The leader of the organising ministry, Betty Musindai, reminded Kenyans of the often-overlooked emotional plight of women who lose their spouses.
“When a woman is bereaved and has lost her husband, we tell her to be strong for her family, we tell her to be strong for her children, we tell her to be strong for the nation, but we forget about herself. We forget to ask how she feels,” Musindai said.
Ida and Raila were married in 1974 after meeting in university and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2023, where Raila described Ida as the bedrock and pillar of their family.
The former Prime Minister, who passed away aged 80 while undergoing treatment in India, was accorded a state funeral and national mourning period by President William Ruto.
With the funeral rituals complete and national tributes concluded, the Odinga family now faces the challenge of moving forward.
For Ida, the shock of an unanticipated loss coupled with the demands of maintaining the public legacy of her husband adds layers of complexity to the grieving process.
She acknowledged that while the family will continue to carry the Odinga name and its political significance, the personal loss remains deeply private and jarring.
As Kenya reflects on the life and contributions of Raila Odinga, Ida’s emotional remarks offer a reminder that behind every public figure are families grappling with private sorrow.
By Nairobi