- Mama Ida Odinga has broken her silence, recalling how Raila’s trip to India felt routine and gave no hint of danger
- She shared that their last conversation was ordinary and calm, only for the next morning to bring the devastating call that he had collapsed and later died of cardiac arrest
- A year on, Ida admits the loss still feels unreal, saying she often waits at home expecting him to walk back in
Mama Ida Odinga has for the first time opened up on her absence by her husband's side when he died in India last year, saying she never saw the trip as a cause for alarm.
Source: Twitter
Speaking to Citizen TV Wednesday, October 14, on the eve of the first anniversary of the death of Raila Odinga, she described the days leading up to his passing.
"He was going for a check-up; there was nothing serious. Had it been that serious, I would have gone with him; I would not have left him to go alone, though they went with Winnie."
The former prime minister had travelled to India for medical treatment, but according to his widow, the visit was routine and not an emergency.
After the hospital stay, the plan was for him to return home. He instead opted to extend his stay in India.
"He went to the hospital, and they did a check on him for four days, and they declared a clean bill of health. After that, he was supposed to come back, but then he said he wanted to take a short holiday in Kerala. In Kerala, many people go there for health holidays,"
Raila then asked his family to join him, with the plan being for them to meet in Dubai.
Some of his children were already in the Gulf city, while others were preparing to travel. Ida, however, stayed in Nairobi.
She said work and responsibilities at home kept her from leaving.
"He had asked for the children to go meet him in Dubai. Junior and his family were already in Dubai; Winnie was with him, and Rosemary was to leave with her family to Dubai. I remained behind because there were so many things that I had to do to catch up, as I remained in Nairobi."
Her last conversation with her husband took place the evening before he died. She says nothing in it hinted at what was coming.
"The evening before he passed on, we talked a lot, and we were talking about ordinary things; there was no alarm, and there was nothing that could suggest he was unwell. He assured me he was very fine; there was nothing wrong."
The first sign of trouble came the next morning, through a phone call from Raila's sister, Wenwa Akinyi.
Ida, who is currently Kenya's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), tried to reach Ruth Adhiambo, another of Raila's sisters, who was with him in India. When she could not get through, she called Winnie.
"The following morning, I got a call from his sister, Dr Akinyi, and she asked me to call the other sister, Ruth Adhiambo, who was with him in India. She said things don't seem to be right, but can you call Ruth and find out what was going on. I could not get Ruth, so I called Winnie, who was also there, and Winnie told me he was taking a walk and he collapsed, but they are trying to resuscitate him."
Raila had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during his morning walk and was rushed to Devamatha Hospital.
Minutes later, the news Ida had feared reached her. Raila died on October 15, 2025, aged 80, despite efforts to resuscitate him.
"Ten minutes later, Winnie calls me and tells me, we've lost the battle. She said Dad is gone, and that is how I received the news. It was not easy. It has not been very easy; it has been difficult."
His body was flown home on a Kenya Airways flight and arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on October 16.
Owing to the deceased's stature and prominence, President William Ruto authorised a state funeral with full military honours and declared seven days of national mourning in his honour.
A year on, Ida says the loss still has not fully settled in. She spoke of how she still waits for him at home.
"Personally, I don't believe he is gone. When he was here, he would stay and come home late. Every time I go home, I keep on hoping that he is going to come back, and you wait and wait until late hours, then you realize that he is not coming."
Raila was buried on October 19, with the KDF honouring him with a 17-gun salute. Thursday, October 15, marks the culmination of a year of national tributes to one of Kenya's most consequential political figures.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Authors:
Tags:
Hot: