Mama Ida Odinga and family during candle lighting ceremony at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo Siaya County./FAITH MATETEMama Ida Odinga has spoken about the difficulty of coming to terms with the death of her husband, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, revealing that she still finds herself hoping he will return home.
Speaking during a media interview as the family marked one year since his death, Ida described the period as difficult, saying she had struggled to accept his absence.
She paused before recounting her experience, appearing sombre as she reflected on life without the former Prime Minister.
“It has not been very easy; it has been difficult. Personally, I don’t believe he is gone,” she said.
Ida recalled how Raila would often return home late, a routine that continues to shape her expectations even after his death.
She said she sometimes finds herself waiting for him to return, only to realise after hours that he is no longer coming home.
“When he was here, he would stay and come home late. Every time I go home, I keep on hoping that he is going to come back, and you wait and wait until late hours, then you realise that he is not coming,” she said.
Her reflections came as the family and supporters gathered to commemorate the first anniversary of Raila’s death.
On Wednesday evening, Ida led members of the family in lighting candles at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County, during an International Candle Lighting Ceremony held in his memory.
Earlier, she had called on Kenyans to embrace Raila’s legacy across political, religious and community lines, urging them to set aside their differences as the country marked the anniversary.
Speaking at the Migwena site in Bondo ahead of Thursday’s memorial, Ida said Raila’s long association with different political parties had enabled him to connect with people across the political divide.
She said the commemoration should bring together Kenyans from different backgrounds to celebrate his life and remember the values he stood for.
“Baba belongs to many people, belongs to many denominations, belongs to people, many parties,” she said.
Ida’s appeal for unity came as the family prepared to honour a political career that spanned decades and brought Raila into association with different parties and communities.
A year after his death, Ida’s account offered a glimpse into her personal grief as she described the difficulty of adjusting to life without a husband whose late-night returns home remain part of her memories.
