In the quiet lakeside town of Bondo, where the legacy of the Odinga family runs deep through the red soil and the hearts of its people, grief hangs heavy in the air. The eldest of the Odinga brothers, Dr. Oburu Oginga, returned home carrying the kind of news that pierces through generations the passing of Raila Amolo Odinga, Kenya’s longtime opposition leader and former Prime Minister.
Oburu, now the new ODM Party leader and co-chair of the state funeral committee, arrived in Bondo shortly after Raila’s body landed in Nairobi from India. His mission was both cultural and personal: to inform the Luo Council of Elders of the death and oversee the early funeral plans, in keeping with Luo traditions, which dictate that the eldest son must officially communicate such monumental family news to the elders.
It was here, in the courtyard of Raila’s ancestral home, that Oburu shared the story of his late brother’s final moments as told by Raila’s daughter, Winnie Odinga.
“When that thing happened,” Oburu said solemnly, “he was walking with his daughter Winnie. She saw how everything happened. That is how it happened as the Lord planned. Jakom is gone, and I can only ask you to give him a decent and dignified send-off.”
Winnie, Raila’s last-born and the closest of his children both politically and emotionally, was by his side during his final days in India. She had accompanied him abroad for treatment, rarely leaving his side. For her, the trip was more than a medical journey it was an act of devotion.
A Daughter’s Final Promise
Those close to the family say Winnie had devoted herself entirely to her father’s care. She was not just his daughter but his confidante, personal assistant, and, in his later years, his fiercest protector. She had long said she owed her life’s direction to his mentorship and vision for a better Kenya.
According to Oburu’s narration, Raila had woken early that morning in India, feeling well enough to take a short walk around the medical facility. Winnie accompanied him, as she had done many mornings before. Moments into the walk, Raila suddenly collapsed. Medical staff rushed in, but despite their efforts, the 80-year-old veteran politician who had defied imprisonment, torture, and decades of political storms could not withstand this final blow.
It was a quiet passing, one that Winnie witnessed firsthand. “She saw everything,” Oburu told mourners. “It was peaceful, the way the Lord planned it.”
The Journey Home
News of Raila’s death was initially met with confusion and disbelief. For hours, mixed reports circulated online and within ODM circles, with many clinging to hope that the “Father of Modern Democracy” would recover. It was only after Oburu’s confirmation and the government’s official statement that the nation came to terms with the reality.
As the body arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) aboard a plane labeled RAO001, crowds flooded the airport. From Nairobi’s streets to his rural home in Siaya, Kenyans from all walks of life poured out in grief chanting liberation songs and waving flags, symbols of the political giant they had long revered.
But for Oburu, beyond the politics and public mourning, this was deeply a family loss one that cut across generations. “We have lost our brother, our leader, our friend,” he said, “but we must also remember his wishes and the traditions that define us.”
A Burial Honoring Tradition and Promise
As per Luo customs, the eldest son has the sacred duty of identifying the burial site and coordinating the final rites. Oburu revealed that the family had already begun preparations for Raila’s burial in Bondo, beside his parents, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Mary Juma Odinga.
Raila had reportedly expressed his wish to be buried within 72 hours of his passing a request rooted in both his personal faith and traditional beliefs. However, due to the logistics of repatriating his body from India and organizing a state funeral, the family adjusted the schedule slightly.
“We will honor his wish,” Oburu assured the elders. “We will give him the dignified send-off he deserves as a son of this land and a father to the nation.”
Winnie’s Strength Amid the Storm
Throughout the unfolding events, Winnie has remained largely out of the public eye, appearing only briefly alongside her mother, Ida Odinga, and other family members during official ceremonies. Those close to her describe her as “composed but deeply shaken,” trying to stay strong as preparations for the state funeral continue.
Family friends say Winnie has found solace in the memories of their final days together the long conversations, the shared laughter, and the quiet walks that marked their time in India.
“She told us that her father was peaceful,” said one relative. “He was ready.”
A Nation in Mourning
As the body of Raila Odinga begins its journey across Kenya from Kasarani Stadium to Kisumu’s Jomo Kenyatta Stadium, and finally to Bondo millions will line the streets to pay tribute. But for the Odinga family, it is Winnie’s story, told through her uncle, that captures the most intimate, human side of a national tragedy a daughter holding her father’s hand as he took his final breath.
“Jakom is gone,” Oburu said quietly. “But his spirit remains with us. In our hearts, in our history, and in the future he fought for.”
