NAIROBI, Kenya – A tearful Ida Odinga has paid a deeply emotional tribute to her late husband, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, describing him as her lifelong partner, confidant, and greatest supporter for more than 50 years.
In a written tribute read during Raila’s funeral service, Ida said her husband’s sudden death had left her “shattered,” adding that her heart was heavy with grief.
“My dear, my heart is heavy as I write these words,” she began. “The news of your sudden passing feels like an ache that cannot be soothed. It’s a pain so deep I find myself praying for strength, for courage, and for the peace that surpasses all understanding.”
Reflecting on their decades together, Ida said she had always imagined spending their retirement years side by side.
“For over five decades, you weren’t just my husband—you were my partner, my confidant, my greatest supporter,” she wrote. “I had dreamed of retiring together, of growing old hand in hand, sharing quiet sunsets and dreams fulfilled. But now I realise life’s plans are in the hands of a higher power.”
Ida described Raila as a man of courage, compassion, and faith, whose life embodied forgiveness, resilience, and service to others.
“You taught me what true courage with humanity looks like,” she said. “Through your actions and words, you showed us that forgiveness is a virtue worth cultivating, that bravery is rooted in facing storms head-on with unwavering faith.”
She said Raila’s generosity and leadership extended beyond their family, shaping the nation and touching countless lives.
“You opened not only our home, but also your heart, extending your fatherly love beyond our nuclear family,” Ida wrote. “Your guidance, your sacrifices, your unwavering dedication—they left a legacy that will forever shine brightly in our family and in the fabric of this nation.”
Calling his death a national loss, Ida said Kenya had lost one of its strongest pillars of democracy and justice.
“Losing you feels like losing a foundation of strength for us all,” she wrote. “Your unwavering commitment to Kenya was evident until your very last breath. I am proud of the man you were—a man who fought tirelessly for justice, democracy, and the future of this country.”
She expressed gratitude to Kenyans and friends across the world for their messages of comfort, saying the outpouring of love had brought her solace amid deep grief.
“The outpouring of love and solidarity from across Kenya and the world has overwhelmed me in the most humbling way,” she said. “It reassures me that your spirit lives on in every heart you touched.”
Ida ended her tribute with a moving farewell:
“Farewell, my dear. You have run your race with honour, with courage, and with unwavering love for Kenya. May the Lord rest your soul in eternal peace. Until we meet again, know that you are forever in my heart.”
