Winnie Odinga, the youngest daughter of the late Raila Amolo Odinga, has hinted at her willingness to work with President William Ruto’s administration, in what many interpreted as a subtle appeal for a new role within the broad-based government forming in the wake of her father’s passing.
Speaking during Raila’s state funeral service at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) in Bondo, Siaya County, on Sunday, October 19, 2025, Winnie struck a tone of gratitude and reconciliation, thanking President Ruto for his role in ensuring a dignified farewell for her father.
“Your Excellency, our people appreciate your honouring my father. Thank you for standing with us,” she said. Adding with a smile, “You should also know, in case you are wondering, I am ready to return home.”
Her remark, which was met with loud applause from the audience, was widely seen as a symbolic overture to the government — suggesting her readiness to build bridges and continue Raila’s legacy of national dialogue and unity.
A New Chapter in the Odinga Legacy
Winnie’s statement comes at a politically transformative moment for Kenya, following Raila’s death on October 15, 2025, and growing signs of cooperation between ODM and President Ruto’s UDA party. Her words echoed her father’s long-held commitment to consensus politics and hinted that the next generation of the Odinga family may embrace collaboration over confrontation.
Currently serving as a Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Winnie was nominated by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the party her father founded. Her declaration was interpreted by analysts as both a personal transition and a signal of ODM’s potential alignment with the ruling administration ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Remembering Raila’s Struggles
During the same service, Raila’s sister, Ruth Odinga, reflected on the late leader’s turbulent political journey, recounting his imprisonment and exile during the Daniel arap Moi regime. “Raila became a refugee in Norway, staying with me. He suffered so much — and Mama Ida suffered too, living without her husband for years,” Ruth recalled emotionally.
She also shared Raila’s final wish, stating that his dying words to her were about unity within ODM. “He told me ODM must remain united, it must be strong. ODM belongs to all of us, not a few people who think they own it,” she said.
A Political Bridge Between Eras
Winnie’s message and Ruth’s reflections together highlighted a broader theme of continuity, reconciliation, and renewal that defined Raila Odinga’s farewell. For many mourners, Winnie’s symbolic “return home” represented not just a daughter stepping into her father’s legacy, but also a reconciliation between the Odinga family and the Ruto administration — a gesture that could shape Kenya’s political direction in the years ahead.
