“Embrace Dialogue to Solve internal Issues” Ida Odinga tells off ODM Officials
In a powerful and emotional statement that peeled back the curtain on a dramatic international effort, Dr. Ida Odinga has revealed the astonishing behind-the-scenes maneuvers that ensured former Prime Minister Raila Odinga received a dignified farewell. On what would have been the opposition icon’s 81st birthday, his family disclosed a stunning chain of interventions that sped his body home from India in “record time,” involving presidents, prime ministers, and a who’s who of African leadership.
The revelation centers on what Ida Odinga singled out as the “decisive and swift intervention” of President William Ruto. In a gesture that bridges Kenya’s often bitter political divides, she expressed profound gratitude, stating, “Mr President, we saw the hand of friendship. We felt the positive weight of government, at your direction, and we are grateful.”
But the logistical and diplomatic mission stretched far beyond Nairobi. The family’s gratitude extended directly to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose “personal and executive interventions” in India were critical in cutting through red tape to facilitate the repatriation of Odinga’s body.
The web of support was cast wide across the continent. Ida Odinga acknowledged an elite group of former heads of state and regional power players who lent their weight during the family’s time of grief. This list reads like a guest list for a pan-African leadership summit: former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Nigeria’s ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo, former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, and African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina.
“On behalf of our family, I wish to share our most sincere and deep gratitude to everyone who, in one way or another, made it possible for us to give Baba the dignified exit that he received,” Ida Odinga said in the heartfelt statement.
The family also paid tribute to the medical teams in both Kenya and India who attended to Raila Odinga during his final illness, naming several doctors integral to his care. Yet, Ida reserved her most poignant tribute for the Kenyan public, describing them as her husband’s “greatest source of strength” and his greatest love outside of his family.
Turning to the political legacy he left behind, Ida Odinga made a heartfelt plea to the leaders of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the party Raila led for decades and which she said “held a special place in his life.”
“It is my wish that we preserve the party in his honour and as a matter of service to our country,” she urged, appealing for internal differences to be resolved through the principles Raila championed: consultation, dialogue, and unity.
Concluding with prayers for the nation and the party, Ida Odinga’s statement not only offered thanks but painted a vivid picture of a moment where geopolitical influence and human compassion converged to honor one of Kenya’s most formidable political figures. It was a final journey home, powered by an unprecedented alliance of rivals and allies alike.
