SIAYA, Kenya – The younger sister of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Ruth Odinga, has urged members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to remain united and uphold the ideals their party leader lived and died for.
Speaking during Raila’s farewell ceremony, Ruth said unity within ODM would be the truest way to honour her brother’s legacy of peace, justice, and democracy.
“ODM must remain one. That’s what he stood for — unity, peace, and justice for all,” she said.
Her remarks come at a time when ODM faces growing calls for cohesion and direction following Raila’s death, with party members and supporters looking to preserve the movement’s identity without its founding leader.
Ruth, her voice trembling with emotion, recalled Raila’s decades-long struggle for democracy, saying he gave everything for Kenya — often at the expense of his own health and family.
“My heart is heavy, my heart is in pain,” she said. “You have suffered for this country, and many could not see it. Go rest now, my brother. You have done your part.”
She said Raila’s lifelong dedication to Kenya came with deep personal cost, adding that her family bore the weight of his sacrifices.
“Our family has suffered because he sacrificed himself for Kenya. He died still crying for the country,” Ruth said.
Describing her brother as a strong and unshakable man, Ruth admitted it was painful to see him lying lifeless after years of fighting for justice and reform.
“Raila has suffered for the Kenyan people. It’s not easy to see someone as strong as him lying there,” she added.
As the ODM fraternity mourns its leader, Ruth’s emotional plea served as both a farewell and a rallying call — a reminder that Raila’s vision of unity and justice must not die with him.
