This week, a group of mourners contacted the family of the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga to visit Kang’o Ka Jaramogi -- his resting place – but were shocked when they were told the next available slot is December 30.
The programme is jam-packed, with hundreds of visitors streaming in daily, 19 days after his burial.
Despite her lingering sorrow at losing her husband, Ida Odinga continues to welcome mourners to her home in Bondo with remarkable grace and warmth. Her spirit of hospitality remains as generous as ever.
Her composure, even in the face of profound grief, continues to inspire those who cross her path. Friends, relatives and strangers alike have found solace in her warmth.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta visits the grave of the late Raila Odinga at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo on on October 20, 2025, a day after the opposition leader was buried.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
She greets visitors every day with a steady smile that seems to lift the weight of mourning, if only for a moment. It is a smile that speaks of resilience, love and courage of a woman who has weathered many storms.
Mama Ida has been accustomed to welcoming guests to her homes in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Bondo. However, the tide of mourners that has poured in every day since her husband's death has been overwhelming, even for someone who is well accustomed to public life.
In a recent reflection, she spoke about the new chapter she now faces.
“I’m still learning to live with the ‘Raila’s widow’ tag,” she said — a phrase both tender and heavy with meaning, capturing not just her personal loss, but the transformation of a life once shared, now defined by the absence of Raila.
And yet, despite her grief, Mama Ida stands tall — a symbol of quiet dignity, reminding those around her that love endures even after someone’s death, and that there can still be light in mourning.
Last week, among the 11 groups that arrived to console her was a delegation of widows from Hope a Life International. Their president, Betty Musindai, offered words of comfort and pledged the solidarity of the organisation's 62,000 members — a sisterhood of women who understand the pain of loss.
Visitors continue to stream into the home. Each day brings new faces, new stories and fresh waves of emotion. Yet, throughout this time, Mama Ida has remained composed, gracious and welcoming.
Ida Odinga, widow of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and her children, Rosemary (left) and Winnie (centre) arrive at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Bondo, Siaya County, for her husband's funeral mass on October 19, 2025.
Photo credit: Thomas Mukoya | Reuters
People from various sectors have visited to pay their last respects, including nurses, women's groups, businesspeople, religious leaders and politicians.
Politicians are seemingly turning Raila’s grave into a shrine, hoping that by visiting it, they will gain the support of Odinga’s followers.
On Thursday, it was the turn of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who led a delegation from Ukambani to Bondo. The first after-burial visit was made by former president Uhuru Kenyatta, just a day after Raila was buried.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka (left) condoles with Raila Odinga's widow Ida Odinga at Kang'o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County on November 6, 2025.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
This opened the floodgates, with many people, including those on the opposite side of the political divide, paying homage to the fallen enigma. They included People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua; former CS Charity Ngilu; Jubilee presidential candidate Fred Matiang'i; Democratic Action Party of Kenya's Eugene Wamalwa; and Trans Nzoia County governor George Natembeya.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s planned tour was marred by political tension following unsettling remarks by his close ally, Mutahi Kahiga,, the governor of Nyeri, about Raila’s death.
Other notable figures who have visited are Kanu chairman Gideon Moi, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula, and former Vice President Moody Awori.
On a continental and global scale, the Odinga family has hosted former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, as well as a 55-strong youth orchestra led by the mayor of Gersthofen, Germany, Michael Worle.
Raila Junior with Ghana's former president, Nana Akufo Addo, at Kang'o ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County on October 29, 2025.
Photo credit: Pool
ODM, the party that Raila led, has organised several events to honour his memory. On Wednesday, the party held a celebration in Homa Bay.
Judging by the overwhelming response, the admiration and love that Raila’s supporters have for the former opposition chief show no sign of waning. Some guests would inform Ida’s handlers of their planned visit, but turn up unexpectedly, yet they have to be catered for.
“Some, especially dignitaries, tell us in advance so we can prepare to receive them. However, since our gates are open, we also receive impromptu visitors who we have to accommodate,” said Albert Jonyo, a relative who has been at Opoda since the death of Odinga.
Mr Jonyo was part of the funeral organising committee. He dealt with the itinerary of the delegations.
Thousands of mourners and guests
Sometimes, the numbers are so high that various groups of visitors are combined under a dome tent. Only representatives would be allowed to deliver short speeches and mourn with the family, as not everyone could fit in Ida’s sitting room.
Mr Jonyo found the programme overwhelming, especially the catering, as they had to feed thousands of guests every day.
“In a day, we slaughtering three to four cows to feed the mourners coming to pay their last respects to Jakom. I haven’t even spoken about breakfast,” said Mr Jonyo.
Mama Ida and her family have had to assign themselves roles to effectively attend to the guests. For example, someone has been tasked with keeping an inventory of all gifts brought to Opoda Farm.
“Those who are coming or will come later, will have enough food until Christmas thanks to the animals being brought here,” said Ida.
Ida Odinga, the widow of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, addresses mourners at the family home in Karen on October 15, 2025.
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group
On Wednesday, a particularly lively delegation arrived, led by Nuru Okanga, an ardent supporter of Odinga. Mama Ida found herself in an unexpected role, helping to organise the guests for a photo and ensuring everyone fitted in the frame.
Scenes like these have become part of her new routine. Although she has long been accustomed to welcoming guests, the attention now feels different — heavier and more emotional.
She must constantly balance her own grief with the expectations of those who come to comfort her, many of whom still look up to her for strength.
Social media user Erick Ochanji poignantly captured this sentiment. He saw a weary but resilient woman — tired, yet steadfast. 'She looked exhausted,' he wrote, 'but she kept going, for Raila.'
For Ochanji and others who have witnessed this period, nothing could have prepared Mama Ida or her family for the overwhelming love, grief and support that has poured into their home. Yet, despite everything, her strength endures — a testament to her character and the deep respect she continues to command across the country.
“lda Odinga has done the biggest that job nothing, in her wildest dreams, prepared her for. Welcoming Raila’s never ending visitors posthumously. She never knew, while marrying Raila Odinga, that she was marrying a future enigma and that his visitors would be more in death than in life. And they never stop coming,” said Mr Ochanji.
The same delegations then move on to Kang’o ka Jaramogi, where Odinga has been buried, to lay wreaths on his grave and say their final goodbyes. The grave has become one of the most visited in the world.
Here, you will also find Raila’s brothers, stepmothers, and other relatives, who have been busy for the last two weeks. Their challenge is compounded by the fact that Raila’s grave is beside the mausoleum of Kenya’s first vice president, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, a museum which is open to visitors.
Charlene Ruto lays a wreath on the grave of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Kang'o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County on October 28, 2025.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
Jaramogi’s surviving widows, Betty and Susan Oginga; Raila’s step-siblings, Emily and Omondi Odinga; and other close allies of the former premier, such as Israel Agina, who was also a political detainee, are here serving guests. They too have been overwhelmed by the influx of visitors, but they are handling it with grace.
“We have been handling this a day at a time. We thought we would leave four days after burial but here we are. It has been overwhelming but we do it for our brother. Because there is a museum here, we have had to also turn into tour guides, taking people round and talking the whole day. I now appreciate the tough job Raila had hosting people and talking throughout the day in Nairobi and at home,” said Emily.
She said this may go on for more than a month and into the festive season, when more people have adequate time to visit.
And for Odinga’s surviving elder brother, Siaya Senator and ODM Interim Party Leader Dr Oburu Oginga, and his younger sister Ruth Odinga, Kisumu Woman representative, have been up and down, attending ODM Party meetings, campaigning for the party candidates and now have to be present during the countrywide memorial services the Orange Outfit has organised in their brother’s honour.
While the memorial services are meant to mourn the departed leader, political observers feel it is a strategy by ODM to provide an opportunity for party members to not only unite and create a strong bond, but also to give the party direction at a time when they are most vulnerable.
“This news really shook us and we are yet to sit as a family to see the way forward. It has not been easy, Raila has shaken Kenya and is being mourned from all over the country and region. We appreciate the love and we cannot run away from this. When things cool, we shall meet as a family and decide how to fill this huge gap that Raila has left in our family,” said Dr Oginga.
Ironically, all these roles were juggled by Odinga every single moment of his life, but now have to be shared and taken up by those he has left behind.
