Even in the wake of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s death, which sent shockwaves through the family and the nation, the Odingas have moved swiftly to protect and preserve the legacy of their towering patriarch.
Rather than retreating into mourning, they have remained alert to the shifting political landscape, determined to ensure that Odinga’s influence does not disappear with his death.
Amid growing infighting within the Orange Democratic Movement, the party he founded, and heightened competition on the national political stage, the family has established itself as a key power broker.
Family of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, led by his wife Mama Ida Odinga, daughters Rosemary Odinga and Winnie Odinga and son Raila Odinga Jr, at Nyayo National Stadium on October 17, 2025, for his state funeral.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
Their strategy has been deliberate and wide-ranging, extending from ward-level politics and county governments to strategic positions within national government agencies and State House, where their political networks remain firmly embedded.
Although 2025 was one of the most turbulent and challenging years for the family politically, the new year brings renewed optimism and a chance to regroup, recalibrate, and reignite the political flame.
This resolve is anchored in the resilience that defined Odinga’s long political journey — a fire that the family appears determined to keep burning.
Without him, the most senior mantle, both within the family and in politics, is being carried by ODM Party leader and Siaya Senator Dr Oburu Oginga.
Siaya Senator Oginga Oburu during an interview with NTV at Serena Hotel Nairobi on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
The country will be looking to him in 2026 to make major decisions, including whether the Orange Party will stand alone or support President William Ruto’s second term.
Then there is Ida Odinga, the former premier’s wife, who has been receiving delegations at her homes in Opodo, Bondo, and Karen, Nairobi, and also making political pronouncements.
She recently insisted that the ODM must support and respect Dr Oginga as its party leader amid disputes within the 20-year-old party. She once said that if you wanted to know what her late husband thought, you should listen to Dr Oginga and read his body language.
Mama Ida Odinga, the widow of former ODM party leader Raila Odinga.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
Her political manoeuvres will be watched closely by various players, including President Ruto, especially after she praised Wiper Democratic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
However, it is the manner in which the third generation of the Odinga family has stepped up that is slowly gaining attention.
They have had to step out of their comfort zones and boardrooms to organise meetings across the country and fight for space within the family and with other formidable candidates seeking to take over the leadership of the Luo community.
Winnie Odinga, for instance, is young but influential. She was in India with her aunt, Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, when Odinga passed away.
She has been a formidable presence ever since, delivering electrifying speeches at her father’s funeral and at the 20th anniversary celebrations of the ODM.
Winnie Odinga speaks during the ODM Youth League Convention at Swahilipot in Mombasa on November 14, 2025.
Photo credit: Wachira Mwangi | Nation Media Group
At times, she was seen to question her uncle Dr Oginga’s ability to lead the broad-based negotiations, but she later pledged her loyalty.
“The party leader is my uncle; I love him because he is the only father I have left. There is never a day I will be in a faction that he is not there. He is the head of my family and I am always with him; that is the faction I belong to. A party with over eight million registered members is bound to have disagreements, but that doesn’t mean that people should be happy that ODM is crumbling,” she told Saturday Nation.
Ruto’s running mate in 2027
Some have even suggested that she would be a better choice as President Ruto’s running mate in 2027.
As the head of the Odinga family, Raila Odinga Junior has taken the reins and has appeared on various political platforms since his father’s death.
Raila Junior eulogises his father Raila Odinga during the State funeral service held on October 17, 2025 at the Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation
While his sister has made significant strides in the political arena, he too is emerging as a potential leader. However, he has focused on the business side of the family, while still voicing his opinions on the ODM Party and national issues.
Their elder sister Rosemary Odinga appears to have taken a back seat in politics after recovering from a medical condition that almost left her blind.
Ms Rosemary Odinga.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Rosemary was thrust into the limelight when she launched her bid for the Kibra parliamentary seat in 2017, but she then suffered a stroke and was transferred to South Africa for further treatment.
She later withdrew from the race after doctors advised her to continue serving the community in other capacities. She was set to compete against the late former Kibra MP Ken Okoth, Eliud Owalo (the current Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the President), and Martin Okoth for the party nomination.
Dr Oginga’s sons, Jaoko Oburu and Elijah Oburu, have both been active in politics for many years, although neither has been elected.
Jaoko, Dr Oginga’s eldest son, previously served as the County Executive Committee Member for Roads in Siaya County, and has recently been appointed Special Advisor on Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Livelihoods in the Office of the President.
Mr Jaoko Oburu.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
He has held a series of meetings with various groups and attended rallies in Kakamega, the Coast, and the Rift Valley, seeking support for his father.
He was once linked with the Bondo parliamentary seat in 2017, but opted to campaign for his uncle for the presidency instead.
Political commentators believe that he is attempting to forge his own path and raise the profile of his father’s side of the family, which has been overshadowed by Odinga’s significant influence.
Mr Elijah Oburu.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Elijah has also been involved in politics, having contested the ODM nomination for the Kisumu Central parliamentary seat in the run-up to the 2022 general election.
He now accompanies his father everywhere as his aide, a move that has raised curiosity and is largely viewed as an attempt to raise his own profile and benefit from his father’s networks. He is also keen to ward off those he feels are not in favour of his father’s interests.
Recently, they decided that he should take a short break following a grueling period of mourning and heightened political activity.
For Raila Odinga Busia Sankara, a lawyer by profession, family unity will be paramount.
During the funeral of his aunt Beryl, he said that the family rarely meets and only sees each other at funerals. He asked every family member to work on this.
There had been concerns about a rift between family members, with those from other branches being viewed as trying to gain influence that had eluded them for years.
Death of the family pillar
“As the family of the third generation of Jaramogi, I want to express that we need to stay united at this point. Why I am saying that, it is because generally, as we have seen over time, we only meet during funerals. We only do things together when there are catastrophes. Now, I would like to express that if we are to have any other events, let us make sure we meet, get together, and form a stable family going forward. We just do not have to meet during funerals,” said Mr Sankara.
He asked that the third generation of the Odinga family ensure they emulate Odinga and his sister Beryl Odinga.
A portrait of the late Beryl Achieng' Odinga on top of her casket during the funeral service at Kang'o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County on December 6, 2025.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
But his younger brother Papa Agolla is more outspoken. He maintains that they will keep the political fire burning in the family.
“Some people may go but others will stay. I say this as an engineer: energy is never created nor destroyed, it is transformed from one form to another. We are still here; there is nowhere we are going,” he said.
The first time he said this animatedly at the funeral, he was praised and embraced by his siblings, with many in the crowd saying the blood of Jaramogi was still alive within the family.
Mr Isaac Omondi Oginga, the eleventh son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and younger brother to Dr Oginga, said their focus as the younger generation is unity.
While they are still learning to come to terms with the death of the family pillar, they are working on a formula for regular family meetings to continue with the unity Odinga left them with.
“This year (2026), we are planning to settle down first, speak in one voice, and chart the way forward as a family, hoping that one of us will emerge like Raila, just like Dr Oburu Oginga has so far, and we are supporting him in steering the family,” said Mr Omondi.
Some people have even joked that he has come to resemble his brother, the former premier, more than anyone else, particularly when he wears the popular fedora hat.
Omondi has previously courted controversy by going against the family grain in some presidential elections.
In 2013, he broke ranks with his family and supported the Jubilee party, campaigning for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s election and attending rallies with Deputy President William Ruto.
However, in subsequent polls he returned to the fold and supported Odinga.
Emily Oginga, a nominated member of the Kisumu County Assembly.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Then there is his sister Emily Oginga, a nominated member of the Kisumu County Assembly, and Tabu Osewe, the MCA for North Sakwa Oburu and sister-in-law of Oginga. Both are soft-spoken but will be aspiring for bigger seats in the coming elections.
It is unclear whether Mrs Osewe will seek higher office in Siaya County, but she has urged the Odinga children to continue their father’s legacy.
“We love you very much, and we expect to see Raila in you,” said Mrs Osewe.
Despite their revival plan, the Odinga family will still have to deal with internal disputes and external forces seeking to diminish their influence.
