EALA MP Winnie Odinga gave guests a light moment during her mother Ida Odinga’s 76th birthday celebration after jokingly introducing her Chihuahua as her “partner”.
The celebration was held at the Odinga family’s Karen residence over the weekend, bringing together relatives and close friends to mark Ida’s birthday.
The occasion was also significant for the family, as it was Ida’s first birthday since her husband, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, died in October 2025.
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Winnie introduces her ‘partner’
Winnie took to the podium to pay tribute to her mother, describing Ida as an important figure who has continued to hold the family together following Raila’s death.
However, the emotional speech took a lighter turn when her white Chihuahua walked onto the podium and settled beside her.
Rather than ignore the interruption, Winnie introduced the dog to the gathering.
“This is my partner here. When everyone was introducing their family, now this is mine,” Winnie said.
Her remark drew laughter from the guests.
The moment was particularly notable because Winnie has previously spoken publicly about her relationship status and the pressure she has faced over marriage.
Winnie has spoken about being single.
In 2023, Winnie said she was single for the first time in nine years and was not in a hurry to get married or have children.
She also spoke about the pressure she had received from her mother to settle down, saying she had asked Ida to tone down the marriage conversations.
At the time, Winnie said she was enjoying her life and believed there was no need to rush into marriage because of societal expectations.
Her comments have continued to attract public interest, particularly because of her willingness to joke about her personal life.
Earlier this month, she also joked about finding a husband in Tanzania after attending the koito ceremony for President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto.
“Baba yangu alinituma Tanzania, siku jua Charlene ananifuata nyuma kuninyima bwana!” she wrote in a social media post.
A bittersweet birthday for Ida
While Winnie’s joke brought laughter, the birthday celebration also carried an emotional side.
During her tribute, Winnie acknowledged that Raila was deeply missed, particularly because he would ordinarily have been part of the family’s birthday celebrations.
She noted that Ida was facing a difficult period as she marked her first birthday without her husband.
Ida, who was born on 24 August 1950, turned 76 this year. She has had a long public career spanning education, advocacy and leadership.
The family celebration therefore combined remembrance with moments of humor, with Winnie’s unexpected introduction of her four-legged companion providing one of the lighter moments of the day.
