Kwaheri Baba: Winnie Odinga dismisses rumours, recalls final moments with her father
Winnie Odinga hands a fedora hat to her mother. It is the hat Raila Odinga wore shortly before his demise. Courtesy photo
Winnie Odinga, the youngest daughter of the late Raila Amolo Odinga, has dismissed false claims circulating online about the circumstances surrounding her father’s death.
Speaking during a family tribute in Nairobi, Winnie, who is also a Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), said her father died peacefully and strong, contrary to misleading narratives on social media.
“It is not every day that I would be standing here to say anything about my beloved father, Raila Odinga,” she began, holding back tears.
“He died in my hands. He died a strong man. It is not what people are saying on social media. I was with him in India, and every morning he would make one round. That day, he made five rounds,” she said.
Her remarks countered a flood of misinformation that spread shortly after news broke of Odinga’s death in India.
Independent fact-checkers have since confirmed that several viral videos circulating online were doctored and taken from older recordings unrelated to his passing.
Raila’s elder brother, Dr Oburu Oginga, also spoke emotionally at the memorial, revealing that the former Prime Minister died on his (Oburu) birthday — a painful coincidence for the family.
“Unfortunately, my brother passed on during my birthday,” Dr Oburu said.
He revealed that his young brother who was almost his age mate, was very bright in academics.
That although Raila did not purse a PhD, he was a bright guy in class. That after his masters degree, Raila chose the political path.
“Raila was always number one in class. I would be number four or five even when I worked hard, but he was always top. Our mother, Mary Juma Odinga, was very strict — she made sure we knew how to cook, clean, and take care of the home. Raila was especially good at that; he could cook ugali and fish better than anyone.”
Dr Oburu described Raila as a visionary leader who lived for the country and never gave up, even in the face of adversity.
“Raila had immense inner strength. Even when things were tough, he would smile and say, ‘We must continue.’ His last conversations were about Kenya — about peace, justice, and unity,” he said.
The Odinga family’s tributes came as thousands of Kenyans gathered at Nyayo Stadium for a state funeral service attended by President William Ruto, First Lady Rachel Ruto, and dignitaries from across Africa.
Earlier, Raila’s body had lain in state at Parliament Buildings, where the President led the nation in signing the condolence book.
According to the funeral committee, Raila’s body will be flown to Kisumu on Saturday morning for public viewing. The final burial will be at his rural home in Bondo, Siaya County, on Sunday.
Dr Oburu, who also introduced his two wives during the family tribute, thanked Kenyans for the overwhelming support and love shown since Raila’s death.
“We are truly touched by how Kenyans have mourned our brother. Raila did not belong only to us as a family — he belonged to the nation. Let us honour his memory by keeping alive his dream for a fair and united Kenya,” he said.
