Ida Odinga, the widow of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, has made an emotional appeal to Kenyans to forgive her late husband for any wrongs he may have committed during his lifetime.
Speaking at Opoda Farm in Bondo on Thursday during a visit by Wiper Party leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Ida delivered a heartfelt message of reconciliation.
Ida who was married to Raila for fifty-two years, urged those who may have felt hurt or wronged by the late ODM leader to let go of any grudges.
“Now I’m asking on behalf of my husband to all those people who called him names or thought he was wrong. If he annoyed you or did something you did not like, I beg you to forgive him because he’s gone,” she said.
“He was easy. He forgave people easily. He always said, ‘forgive and let’s move on,’ so I ask you too, wherever you are, don’t hold grudges with him. He’s already gone.”
The emotional moment came as political leaders, family members, and close friends continued to visit the Odinga family to pay their final respects to the late opposition leader.
Kalonzo Musyoka, who has long been a close ally of Odinga in the Azimio coalition and former running mate, joined mourners in offering condolences and sharing memories of their long-standing political partnership.
Raila Odinga, a towering figure in Kenya’s political landscape, was revered and criticized in equal measure for his decades-long struggle for democracy, reform, and justice.
Ida’s remarks appeared to reflect a call for national healing and unity, marking a conciliatory tone amid the outpouring of grief and reflection that has followed his passing.
As the nation continues to mourn, her words serve as a reminder of Raila’s enduring message of forgiveness and resilience, values that defined much of his public and personal life.
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