Kwaheri Baba: Ida Odinga recalls the man behind the name ‘Baba’

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Raila Amolo Odinga was not just a politician. 

He was a patriot who detested greed, corruption, and dishonesty in all its forms.

His widow, Mama Ida Odinga, painted this portrait of the man Kenyans fondly call Baba as she stood before a nation in mourning, her voice steady but filled with emotion.

“Raila hated greed. Raila hated dishonesty. I thank you all for standing with his family,” she said, earning a long round of applause from thousands gathered at Nyayo Stadium for the state funeral service.

She spoke of a man whose political life was anchored in integrity--one who spent his life fighting for democracy, fairness, and inclusion, even at personal cost.

After recalling Raila’s virtues, Mama Ida took mourners back in time, offering a rare glimpse into their private family life--through the stories of how they named their four children.

Each name, she revealed, carried the weight of political conviction, global solidarity, and love.

“Our firstborn was named after Cuban President Fidel Castro,” she said.

The choice of Fidel reflected Raila’s admiration for revolutionary leaders who stood against oppression and for justice--much like his own struggle for Kenya’s second liberation.

Throughout his life, Raila often cited Cuba’s defiance of imperialism as a lesson in courage and sovereignty.

Next came the story of their daughter:

“Rose is my mother and Mary is Raila’s mother. So we called her Rosemary,” she explained, smiling faintly.

The name Rosemary thus symbolised unity between two families--a merging of the maternal figures who shaped both Ida and Raila.

Rosemary herself has followed her parents’ path of service, becoming a public figure in her own right through entrepreneurship and advocacy for women and youth empowerment.

The third child, she said, was named to continue a family legacy.

“He was named after Raila’s cousin, his namesake--hence Raila Junior.”

The decision to name him Junior reflected the Odinga family’s deep respect for lineage and continuity.

Raila Junior has since become active in politics, embodying what many see as his father’s calm resolve and resilience.

Then came the youngest:

“She was born when Nelson Mandela came out of prison. He was held by his wife Winnie Mandela. So we named her Winnie.”

That moment in 1990 was a defining global event--the triumph of justice over tyranny.

Naming their daughter Winnie captured the optimism and spirit of liberation that both Raila and Ida had dedicated their lives to.

Mama Ida reflected on their 52-year marriage--a bond forged in activism, tested by detention and political persecution, yet grounded in mutual respect.

“I have lived with Raila for 52 years. Many of you in this stadium could be our children. No wonder you rightfully call him Baba,” she said.

The crowd erupted into chants of “Baba! Baba!” as the woman who had stood beside him through storms spoke of love, struggle, and endurance--qualities that defined Kenya’s longest-serving opposition leader.

Closing her speech, Mama Ida reminded Kenyans of the title the public affectionately gave her — “Min Piny”, a Luo phrase meaning Mother of the World.

“The name given to me by the public, Min Piny, gives me a huge responsibility to act and behave as one,” she said softly.

“Raila stood for peace. Let us mourn Raila peacefully.”

Her message was both a plea and a promise: that even in grief, Kenyans must uphold the values her husband lived and died for — unity, honesty, and peace.

As she stepped back, the stadium fell silent for a moment — a collective acknowledgment that Kenya was not just bidding farewell to a leader, but to a symbol of courage and conscience.