Mama Ida Odinga, spouse of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, has appealed to Kenyans to uphold peace and unity while mourning the demise of her husband.
Speaking during the State Funeral on Friday October 17, 2025 at Nyayo Stadium, Ida called on mourners to honour Raila’s legacy by maintaining peace.
“One thing I know that Raila stood for and kept on repeating is that we need peace in our nation and homes. For that reason, I appeal that let’s mourn Raila in peace,” said Ida.
“I know you’re all concerned, but let’s keep the peace not only here but the rest of the country,” she added.
Her message resonated deeply with the crowd, many of whom had travelled from different parts of the country to attend the State Funeral.
She further stated that Raila was an advocate of peace who insisted on maintaining peace in the homes and also in the country.
At the same time, the widow of the late Raila Odinga, recalled how they met, reminiscing about their 52 years of marriage.
Mama Ida remembered how she met Raila in the early 1970s, whom she fell in love with and married in 1973.
She added that their marriage stood the test of time, from Raila’s political detentions and uprising against the governments of the day.
“I first met Raila way back in the early 70s, and we got married in 1973. For that reason, I’ve lived with this man for 52 years. Many of the people in this stadium could easily be our children; no wonder you call him Baba,” she stated.
She also recalled how they named their four children in line with their heroes who embodied positive attributes.
“During our union, we were blessed with four children. The first child is Fidel Castro Odhiambo Odinga. When he was born, I was a bit hesitant about the name.
“He said he was a great admirer of Fidel Castro. Later, we had a second child, Rosemary. Rose is my mother’s name, and Mary is his mother’s and so we combined the two.
“The third, he named after his best friend and cousin, whom they shared a name with, so we ended up with Raila Oginga Odinga (Junior). Last, there was a big gap, and the fourth child. When I went to the hostel, I was watching TV, and that’s the time Nelson Mandela came out of prison. I could see Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela walking out of the gates of the prison. I said if it was a boy, it would be Nelson, if it was a girl, it would be Winnie,” she recalled.
