Winnie Odinga, daughter of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, celebrated not only her father’s political legacy but also his unwavering dedication as a father and mentor during his state funeral at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Friday.
Speaking before thousands of mourners, Winnie recounted the final moments she shared with her father, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 80 in Kochi, India, reportedly following a cardiac arrest.
She described how, despite his declining health, Raila remained determined and strong, even walking several laps around the hospital grounds in his final days.
“He died in my arms, but he did not die as people have been saying on social media,” Winnie said, emphasizing her father’s resilience and dignity in his last moments.
“I don’t know who I’ll miss more, my dad or my superhero. I am the luckiest girl in the world because you were my dad. To the world, you were known by many names: Aluo, Jaramogi’s son, Tinga, Agwambo, Nyundo, Jakom, Baba Fidel, but in the end, they called you Baba. To me, you were simply Dad,” she said, expressing the profound personal impact of her father’s presence in her life.
Winnie also shared insights into the unique upbringing she and her siblings experienced, describing their home as “the vitendawili testing ground,” where their father constantly challenged them with trivia and puzzles.
“To the world, you were known by many names, but to me, you were simply Dad, a man whose presence froze rooms around the world,” she said, underscoring the influence he had on those close to him.
In a moving gesture steeped in Luo tradition on Thursday, Winnie returned from Mumbai with her father’s body and handed his trademark hat to her mother, performing a sacred ritual called Osimbo Mar Juogi.
As the last-born daughter, she had been entrusted with caring for her father in his final days. By returning the hat to her mother, she symbolically handed back that responsibility.
In Luo custom, if the mother had passed instead, the last-born son would perform a similar act, returning the duty to the father while affirming, “I did my best, I gave everything.”
These traditions reflect the deep cultural values of the Luo people: the last-born son ensures the mother’s well-being, while the last-born daughter ensures the father’s peace.
In her tribute, Winnie highlighted Raila Odinga’s lifelong commitment to Kenya, emphasizing that his love for the country was demonstrated through sacrifice and service.
“Millions of you are in despair, but take heart, because he left a plan for you too. He led all of us, he taught us, he carried us, we know what he expects from all of us, and we shall rise together in his honour,” she stated, urging the nation to continue his legacy of leadership and unity.
“The biggest part of me died on October 15, 2025. But the spirit of the lion roars on forever. The King is dead, but long live the crown,” she added.
A towering figure in Kenya’s political landscape, Raila Odinga ran for the presidency five times, most recently three years ago.
Though he never held the office, he remained an iconic symbol of national democracy, frequently asserting that his electoral defeats were the result of vote manipulation.
Mourners carried branches and palm fronds, traditional symbols of grief among the Luo community, to honour Odinga’s heritage and legacy.
