Ida Odinga with other leaders in Bondo on October on 15, 2026/COURTESYIda Odinga has recounted the pain of losing her husband, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying she handed him to Kenyans alive to pursue politics and defend their interests but received him back in a coffin.
Speaking at Migwena Grounds in Bondo during the first anniversary celebration of Raila’s death, Ida recalled the December 10, 2021, Azimio la Umoja convention at Kasarani Stadium, where she publicly released her husband to continue with his political engagements.
“On the 10th December 2021, during an Azimio la Umoja convention at Kasarani, I released Jakom to the public. Those who were there, or those who heard, I told you, I release him to you to go and do his politics and protect the people of Kenya,” she said.
Ida said she had also appealed to the crowd to take care of Raila, who had spent decades at the centre of Kenya’s political struggles.
“But I also told the crowd that please take care of him today. I'm sorry to report that I gave him to you alive, but you gave me him back to me in a coffin,” she said.
Her remarks captured the grief of the family a year after Raila’s death, as relatives, political allies and supporters gathered in Bondo to honour his life and legacy.
Ida also spoke of the difficult period the family had endured following Raila’s death, revealing that they suffered another loss barely 40 days later.
She said the death of Beryl Achieng, another member of the family, compounded their grief and made it difficult to cope with the loss of the former Prime Minister.
“This past year has not been very easy for us, the family of Raila Odinga. The year had hardly started. Soon after Raila passed on, 40 days after Raila passed on, we lost another member of the family, called Beryl Achieng,” she said.
Ida said the two deaths within such a short period had weighed heavily on the family, affecting their ability to engage publicly in the way some supporters expected.
“These two losses, within a period of 40 days, was too much for the family, and that is why, if you see the family is not excited the way some of you are excited, you should know it has been very heavy in our heart,” she said.
She added that the family had struggled to relate to the public amid the grief and may not have undertaken some activities people expected of them.
Ida said the anniversary was also an opportunity to remember Achieng, whose death had compounded the family’s sorrow.
“So today, as we gather here to remember Raila, our hearts are also remembering Achieng. We miss her love. We miss her very much, but we also pray that may the good Lord keep her soul in eternal peace,” she said.
The gathering in Bondo brought together mourners to reflect on Raila’s political journey and remember the former Prime Minister one year after his death.
Several leaders from the Linda Mwananchi camp attended the event.
