‘I Don’t Believe He Is Gone’: Ida Odinga Opens Up About Life Without Raila

Ida Odinga has spoken about the difficulty of accepting her husband Raila Odinga’s death, saying she sometimes still expects him to return home as he did during his lifetime.

Speaking as family members and supporters gathered in Siaya County to mark one year since the former Prime Minister’s death, Ida said she continued to struggle with his absence despite the passage of time. She recalled that Raila often returned home late after political engagements and official duties. His routine, she said, remains deeply ingrained in her daily life, sometimes leaving her waiting for him before remembering that he is no longer alive.

“It has not been very easy; it has been difficult. Personally, I don’t believe he is gone,” she said.

Her remarks offered a personal account of the loss experienced by the family following the death of one of Kenya’s most prominent political figures. While the anniversary celebrations focused on Raila’s political career and contribution to public life, Ida’s reflections highlighted the continuing grief faced by those closest to him.

On Wednesday evening, family members gathered at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo for an international candle-lighting ceremony led by Ida. She was joined by relatives, including Raila Odinga Junior, as supporters took part in memorial activities in Kenya and abroad.

The ceremony was part of a wider programme to honour Raila’s life and public service. Organisers had encouraged Kenyans and his supporters around the world to light candles at the same time in their homes, places of worship and community spaces.

The initiative brought together people from different countries to remember the former Prime Minister and reflect on his legacy a year after his death. Kang’o ka Jaramogi holds particular significance for the Odinga family. The site is closely associated with Raila’s father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, a leading figure in Kenya’s independence struggle. Holding the ceremony there also reflected the family’s longstanding place in the country’s political history.

Earlier in the day, Ida urged Kenyans to mark the anniversary without regard to political or religious differences. Speaking ahead of the main memorial events at Migwena in Bondo, she said Raila had built relationships with people from different backgrounds throughout his political career.

“Baba belongs to many people, belongs to many denominations, belongs to people, many parties,” she said.

Her message reflected the family’s call for the anniversary to bring Kenyans together in remembrance of a leader whose political career spanned several decades. Raila worked with different political parties and alliances and maintained support among people from various regions and communities. The commemorations combined tributes to his public service with private acts of remembrance by his family and supporters.