Raila Odinga’s eldest daughter, Rosemary Odinga, has shared a heartfelt tribute to her father, saying she is still struggling to come to terms with his sudden passing.
Flanked by her two daughters during the state funeral service at Nyayo Stadium, Rosemary described the late former Prime Minister as not just a father, but a confidant, close friend and advisor.
“To me, he was my advisor, a friend, someone who understood me very well with my children and siblings. It’s still very difficult, it’s painful, she said, her voice filled with heartbreak.
She went on to share how she received the tragic news from her younger brother, Junior, while having breakfast.
“I had just finished taking breakfast when Junior [her younger brother] called and asked me where I was. I told him I was seated at the table. He asked me to sit down again, and I remember wondering, ‘Should I sit on the table?’ I was confused,” she recalled.
“Then he broke the news that father was no longer with us. Until today, it’s very difficult.” She said.
Speaking to thousands of mourners who had gathered Friday for the state funeral, she expressed gratitude to Kenyans and the world for standing with the family during their time of loss.
“Today we mourn together with entire Kenya and the world and I say thank you for standing with us, let’s stand together. God bless you,” she said.
Raila, who passed on aged 80 while receiving treatment in India, will be buried on Sunday in Bondo.
Read the full tribute:
You were Baba to millions of people in Kenya but to me you were more than that; you were the loving Dad to me and my siblings; a loving husband to my mother, and a loving granddad to my daughters.
You were also my confidant, my adviser and my dear friend. You were a family man of unparalleled integrity. You believed in doing the right thing, even when it was hard or unpopular.
You were my evergreen source of wisdom and my best life coach. You had a way of sharing advice, wisdom or lessons without making them sound like lectures. Baba, you taught me to sharpen my own ideas, to think deeply, to question, to stand for what I believe in even when it’s not easy.
You showed me that true strength lies not intransigent, but in conviction guided by compassion. Through your example, I learned forgiveness; that healing comes not from holding on, but from letting go and choosing peace.
And most beautifully, you taught me to appreciate diversity and to embrace those who see the world differently. You lived your truth with openness and tolerance, reminding us that Kenya’s strength is in her many voices.
You are not just my father, Baba. You are my teacher, my compass and my greatest example of grace in the face of struggle. Your life was a gift and I will forever cherish the memories of the personal moments we shared.
Thank you for your guidance support and the unwavering and unconditional love you showed me. I can’t imagine how I will be able to live without you but I know the Almighty will give me the strength and wisdom to do.
I will forever honour your legacy. I will carry on your memories and values, and I promise to live a life that would make you proud. Everything I will, I will do it for you. Your memory will forever be a treasure.
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
