Mama Ida Recalls How She Learnt of Hubby Raila Odinga’s Death: “Winnie Told Me We’ve Lost Battle”

Mama Ida Odinga has broken her silence on the most painful moments of 15 October 2025, giving Kenyans the most heartbreaking account yet of how she came to know that her husband, former prime minister Raila Amolo Odinga, had died thousands of kilometres away in India.

Ida Odinga recalled how she learnt of Raila’s death. Photo: Ida Odinga. Source: Facebook

The interview, broadcast on Citizen TV Kenya was filmed indoors in a sombre, reflective setting and aired as part of nationwide commemorations ahead of Raila's first death anniversary memorial on Thursday, 15 October.

Ida explained that she was in Kenya when a call from Akinyi set the alarm bells ringing. Akinyi urged her to contact Ruth Odinga, Raila's younger sister who had travelled with him to India, to find out what was happening.

Ida Odinga Speaks Out a Year after Raila’s Death: “I Keep Hoping He Will Come Back”

Unable to reach Ruth, Ida rang her youngest daughter, Winnie Odinga, who was also part of the entourage in Kochi.

Winnie's initial report was frightening enough.

The word "resuscitate" stopped her cold. She repeated it back to Winnie in disbelief, and Winnie confirmed that doctors had rushed Raila to the ICU.

What followed was roughly ten minutes of agonising silence as Ida waited for news from the hospital.

Then Winnie called again explaining to her mum that the family had lost the battle, which were the most painful words for Ida.

Ida Odinga breaks down while remembering Raila, shares details of last conversation

She confirmed the call came in the morning, Kenyan time.

Raila died at the age of 80 following a cardiac arrest while undergoing medical treatment in Kochi. His body was flown back to Kenya aboard a Kenya Airways flight and he was buried in Bondo, Siaya County, on 17 October 2025, a day that was declared a national public holiday.

The main anniversary event will take place at Kang'o Ka Jaramogi and Migwena Cultural Grounds in Bondo, where President William Ruto recently commissioned the newly built Raila Amolo Odinga Mausoleum.

The ODM party has declared October "Mwezi wa Baba," organising tribute events in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret throughout the month.

Ida, who chairs the anniversary steering committee led by Prof. Adams Oloo, has repeatedly urged calm during the commemorations, saying Raila "belonged to many people."

Winnie Odinga explains emotional meaning of Raila’s iconic fedora hat, why she gave it to Ida

We also highlighted facts about Winnie’s decision to give her mother, Ida, Raila’s iconic white fedora after his death.

Winnie carried the hat from India to Kenya, keeping it close throughout the journey home. At the airport, she placed it on her mother’s lap in a deeply moving moment captured by cameras.

Patricia Tonui (Entertainment editor) Patricia Tonui is a journalist and an entertainment editor at TUKO.co.ke. She was a Broadcast Journalism student at the University of Nairobi, class of 2022, and has a five-year experience working in digital media, having previously worked at mpasho.co.ke. Patricia joined Tuko.co.ke in 2022. Reach out to patricia.tunoi@tuko.co.ke if you have entertaining and informative news to share.