Mama Ida Odinga has broken her silence on the most painful moments of 15 October 2025, giving Kenyans the most heartbreaking account yet of how she came to know that her husband, former prime minister Raila Amolo Odinga, had died thousands of kilometres away in India.
The interview, broadcast on Citizen TV Kenya was filmed indoors in a sombre, reflective setting and aired as part of nationwide commemorations ahead of Raila’s first death anniversary memorial on Thursday, 15 October.
Ida explained that she was in Kenya when a call from Akinyi set the alarm bells ringing. Akinyi urged her to contact Ruth Odinga, Raila’s younger sister who had travelled with him to India, to find out what was happening.
Unable to reach Ruth, Ida rang her youngest daughter, Winnie Odinga, who was also part of the entourage in Kochi.
Winnie’s first update
Winnie’s initial report was frightening enough.
“I couldn’t get Ruth so I called Winnie who was also there and Winnie told me oh he was taking a walk and he collapsed but they are trying to resuscitate him,” Ida recalled.
The word “resuscitate” stopped her cold. She repeated it back to Winnie in disbelief, and Winnie confirmed that doctors had rushed Raila to the ICU.
What followed was roughly ten minutes of agonising silence as Ida waited for news from the hospital.
Winnie breaks painful news
Then Winnie called again explaining to her mum that the family had lost the battle, which were the most painful words for Ida.
“Ten minutes later Winnie calls me and tells me mum we lost the battle.’ And I say, what? What are you saying? Then she says, dad is gone. And that is how I received the news,” Ida said, her voice breaking as she spoke.
She confirmed the call came in the morning, Kenyan time.
“Yeah, it was in the morning. It was not easy. It was not easy. Since that time, it has…” she said, before trailing off entirely.
Raila died at the age of 80 following a cardiac arrest while undergoing medical treatment in Kochi. His body was flown back to Kenya aboard a Kenya Airways flight and he was buried in Bondo, Siaya County, on 17 October 2025, a day that was declared a national public holiday.
Raila’s memorial preparations
The main anniversary event will take place at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi and Migwena Cultural Grounds in Bondo, where President William Ruto recently commissioned the newly built Raila Amolo Odinga Mausoleum.
The ODM party has declared October “Mwezi wa Baba,” organising tribute events in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret throughout the month.
Ida, who chairs the anniversary steering committee led by Prof. Adams Oloo, has repeatedly urged calm during the commemorations, saying Raila “belonged to many people.”
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