Winnie Odinga Reveals What Made Bringing Raila’s Body Home So Difficult

Winnie Odinga has opened up about the painful experience of bringing her father, former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, home from India following his death, describing the journey as the hardest thing she has ever done.

In a deeply emotional account shared through a BBC produced segment, Winnie recalled accompanying her father’s remains on a flight from Mumbai to Nairobi on October 16, 2025. The account offers a personal glimpse into the grief she experienced as the family prepared to receive the body of a man who had played a significant role in Kenya’s political history.

According to Tuko.co.ke, Winnie revealed that she had spent two weeks with her father in India shortly before his death. She said he had appeared to be in good health during their time together, making his passing particularly shocking.

“I was as shocked as everybody,” she said, reflecting on how unexpectedly the situation unfolded.

The journey back to Kenya was especially difficult for Winnie, who was forced to confront the reality of losing her father while accompanying his remains home.

She recalled wanting to be with her mother and return home, but struggling with the circumstances under which she was making the journey.

“I was not meant to bring him back in this manner,” she said, expressing the pain of returning to Kenya without her father alive.

Winnie, the youngest of Raila’s four children, also spoke about the important role her father played in the lives of his children. She described him as an exceptional parent who cared for, protected and guided them throughout their lives.

One of the most memorable details from the flight was Winnie’s attachment to her father’s trademark hat, an item closely associated with Raila and his public image.

Throughout the journey, she held onto the hat, finding comfort in protecting something that had belonged to her father. She explained that she felt it rightfully belonged to her mother and became particularly protective of it as the reality of the loss began to sink in.

In a caption accompanying the video shared on her TikTok account, Winnie described bringing her father home as the hardest thing she had ever done. She explained that she held onto the hat throughout the flight and only let it go when she could safely place it in the hands of people who had helped her father wear it on many occasions.

The moment highlighted how an object that had long been recognised as part of Raila’s public identity had also become a deeply personal connection to him for his family.

According to Tuko.co.ke, more than 20,000 people tracked the flight carrying Raila’s remains to Kenya, making it the most followed flight of that day. The return drew considerable public attention as Kenyans awaited the arrival of the veteran opposition leader’s body.

Upon landing, Winnie was taken to a VIP room, where she reunited with her mother, other family members and dignitaries, including President William Ruto.

The emotional account has since resonated with Kenyans who continue to remember Raila and the impact he had on the country. Reactions to the video reflected the grief surrounding his death, with social media users sharing messages of sympathy and remembering his contribution to Kenya’s political life.

Through her recollection, Winnie has offered a deeply personal perspective on a moment that was witnessed by many Kenyans but experienced most painfully by his immediate family.

For her, bringing Raila home was not simply a journey between two countries. It was the difficult final journey of a daughter accompanying her father home, holding onto his hat as she tried to protect one last tangible connection to him.

https://www.tuko.co.ke/people/642993-winnie-odinga-opens-bringing-raila-odingas-body-home-india-hardest/

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