Martha Karua holds hands with Ida Odinga as she steps out of a vehicle during a condolence visit following the death of Karua's father, Mwalimu Jackson Karua, on September 29, 2026/HANDOUT

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s widow Ida Odinga has led her daughters Rosemary and Winnie in visiting People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua to condole with her following the death of her father, Mwalimu Jackson Karua.

The Orange Democratic Movement said Ida and her daughters visited Karua at her residence, where they paid their tribute.

"Mama Ida and her daughters Rosemary Odinga and Winnie Odinga condoled with Karua and wished her and the entire Karua family God’s strength and fortitude during this difficult time of mourning," ODM said in a statement.

Karua later thanked the three for visiting and sharing in her grief.

"We had a beautiful visit from Mama Ida, Winnie and Rosemary Odinga," Karua said in a post.

She said the loss had created a shared understanding of grief between the families, noting that they had maintained bonds through different seasons of life.

"The weight of losing someone who has been such a central part of your life is a grief we sadly share, but one that has also given us a deeper understanding of what it means to hold each other through loss," Karua said.

A photograph from the visit shows Karua and Ida after stepping out of the vehicle, with the two holding each other's hands as they face one another with sad faces during the greeting.

Karua said the visit came at a difficult moment for her family and thanked Ida and her daughters for being present during their mourning.

"Through the years, we have shared many seasons of life, and continue to hold bonds that carry us through the difficult moments too. Thank you for coming to be with us and share in our grief," she said.

Martha Karua poses for a photo with Ida Odinga and her daughters Rosemary Odinga and Winnie Odinga during their condolence visit following the death of Karua's father, Mwalimu Jackson Karua on September 29, 2026/HANDOUT

Karua announced the death of her father two days ago, saying he died on Sunday after she and her siblings had spent time with him at his home in Kirinyaga earlier that day.

She said the family had sung his favourite gospel hymn during the visit, unaware that it would be their last song together.

"On my way back to Nairobi, I received the news that my beloved father had breathed his last," Karua said.

Karua said she was grateful to have spent time with her father before his death, including sitting beside him during what became their final moments together.

"There is never really an age at which you are prepared to say goodbye to someone who has been part of your life from the very beginning," she said.

She described her father as a principled man, teacher and strong believer in character, education and doing what is right.

"But to us, above all, he was a loving father, steady, generous, and present," Karua said.

She said his death was a profound loss to his children, grandchildren, wider family and the many people whose lives he touched.