Mama Ida Odinga has spoken about the preparations to mark the first anniversary of the death of her husband, former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, with the family planning a series of commemorative activities intended to give Kenyans an opportunity to remember, mourn and celebrate the life of the veteran politician.

Raila Odinga died on October 15, 2025, in Kochi, India, aged 80, while receiving medical attention. His death brought together Kenyans across political, religious and regional lines to mourn one of the country's most prominent political figures. He was later buried at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County, in a ceremony attended by national and international leaders. 

As the country approaches October 15, 2026, the Odinga family has begun preparations for the first anniversary of his passing. The occasion is expected to focus not only on his political career but also on his contribution to Kenya's democratic development, Pan-Africanism and public life.

Ida Odinga’s message

Speaking during a press briefing on September 17, 2026, Mama Ida Odinga highlighted the institutional and academic initiatives being developed in Raila's memory. Among them is the planned Raila Odinga Centre for Democracy at the University of Nairobi.

According to Ida, the establishment of the centre represents an important way of preserving her husband's ideas and creating a lasting platform for scholarship, democratic discussion and research. She expressed appreciation for the diplomatic and academic institutions that have chosen to honour Raila during the first-anniversary period. 

The University of Nairobi is expected to officially launch the Raila Odinga Centre for Democracy during the week of commemorative activities. The centre is intended to serve as a platform for research, scholarship and public dialogue on democracy and governance in Africa. The university has reportedly developed a governance framework, operational guidelines, partnership model and a five-year strategic plan covering 2026 to 2030. 

For Ida, such an initiative gives Raila's legacy a permanent institutional home rather than limiting the anniversary to speeches and memorial ceremonies.

First anniversary comes one year after a historic loss

Raila's death in October 2025 was one of the most significant political events in Kenya that year. His passing followed decades at the centre of the country's political and democratic struggles.

He had served in Parliament for many years and occupied the position of Prime Minister between 2008 and 2013. He also contested the presidency several times and remained one of the most recognisable figures in Kenyan politics.

His death therefore affected not only his immediate family but also millions of supporters who had followed his political journey over several decades.

For Mama Ida, the first anniversary will also be a deeply personal moment. She became a widow after spending decades alongside Raila, accompanying him through periods of political activism, detention, opposition politics, government and international diplomacy.

During Raila's funeral in October 2025, Ida delivered an emotional eulogy and spoke about the difficulty of having to lead the family through the burial of her husband. She said she had expected that she would not be the person leading the family in burying Raila. 

Family wants the anniversary to belong to Kenyans

The Odinga family has indicated that the first anniversary should be inclusive and should provide an opportunity for ordinary Kenyans who supported Raila to participate.

On September 13, 2026, the family announced that it had formed a committee chaired by Professor Adams Oloo to coordinate activities surrounding the anniversary. The family said the commemoration would take place during the week of October 15.

The family explained that many of Raila's supporters did not get an opportunity to mourn him in the manner they would have wished immediately after his death. The anniversary is therefore intended to give them another opportunity to remember him, celebrate his life and reflect on the journey they shared with him.

The family has also stressed that Raila's legacy should not be treated as the property of one individual or institution. Instead, it has described the anniversary as belonging to the people whose lives he touched.

That approach is significant because Raila had supporters in different parts of Kenya and across different communities. His political career extended well beyond his traditional Nyanza base, with supporters in Nairobi, Western Kenya, the Coast, Rift Valley, Northern Kenya and other regions.

ODM also plans a month-long commemoration

The anniversary preparations have also been accompanied by a separate programme announced by the Orange Democratic Movement.

ODM has designated October 2026 as “Mwezi wa Baba”, with activities planned across the country to honour Raila. According to the party's programme, activities will begin with a nationwide candle-lighting ceremony on October 2. 

A major memorial rally is scheduled for Kakamega on October 9, followed by activities involving Raila's family between October 10 and October 15. The main memorial service is expected to take place at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo.

Other activities are planned in northern Kenya, the Coast region, Kajiado, Turkana and Nairobi later in October. The programme is scheduled to conclude with a major Nairobi event on October 31.

The party has said the activities are intended to remember Raila's contribution to democracy and Pan-Africanism.

The significance of Bondo

Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo will hold particular significance during the first anniversary because it is where Raila was laid to rest.

The burial followed a series of public ceremonies attended by senior Kenyan leaders, former presidents, foreign dignitaries, religious leaders and thousands of ordinary citizens.

President William Ruto led the country in bidding farewell to Raila and later described him as a political mentor and friend. The President also said Raila had made significant personal and family sacrifices for Kenya. 

The first anniversary at Bondo will therefore provide an opportunity for family members, political leaders, friends and supporters to return to his graveside and remember the former Prime Minister.

Raila’s democratic legacy

One of the major themes surrounding the anniversary is Raila's contribution to Kenya's democratic development.

Raila's political history included periods of opposition to the government of the day, political detention and activism for multiparty democracy. His supporters have frequently associated him with campaigns for constitutional and institutional reforms.

His political career also coincided with some of Kenya's most important political transformations, including the return to multiparty politics, the 2007–2008 political crisis and the adoption of the 2010 Constitution.

The planned University of Nairobi centre is consequently significant because it is designed around democracy and governance. Rather than simply preserving Raila's name, the institution is expected to provide a space where scholars and members of the public can examine democratic governance and political development in Africa. 

Ida’s role after Raila’s death

Since Raila's death, Mama Ida has increasingly become an important figure in preserving the family's public legacy.

In August 2026, she marked her 76th birthday, the first birthday she celebrated without her husband. The occasion was described as emotional because Raila had traditionally been part of her birthday celebrations. Her daughter Winnie Odinga acknowledged the difficulty of celebrating the occasion without him and thanked Ida for holding the family together during a difficult period. 

Ida has also spoken about the family's future and the continued relevance of Raila's ideals.

During her birthday celebrations, she addressed her son Raila Odinga Junior's political ambitions and urged leaders who had worked with his father to mentor him. She also called for clean politics and encouraged political leaders to convince citizens through their ideas and what they can do for them. 

These remarks have added another dimension to the discussion surrounding Raila's legacy: the question of how his political values will be remembered by the next generation.

A moment of remembrance for the family

For the Odinga family, the first anniversary will inevitably be more than a political event.

It will be the first time the family formally marks a full year since the death of the patriarch who played a central role in their lives.

Raila and Ida were married for decades and raised their children together. Their family life was closely intertwined with Raila's political career, including periods when he was detained and when the family faced political pressure.

The anniversary will therefore provide the family with an opportunity to reflect privately as well as publicly on their loss.

At the same time, the public nature of Raila's life means that thousands of Kenyans are expected to participate in commemorative events.

Academic and diplomatic recognition

Another important feature of the first anniversary is the involvement of academic institutions.

Ida said Daystar University had also been preparing a symposium focused on Raila's legacy, while the University of Nairobi is preparing to establish the permanent Raila Odinga Centre for Democracy. 

Such activities broaden the anniversary beyond traditional political rallies.

They create opportunities for discussions about Raila's political philosophy, Kenya's democratic development, African unity and governance.

The centre at the University of Nairobi could consequently become one of the more permanent reminders of Raila's contribution to public life.

The anniversary and Kenya’s political history

Raila's first death anniversary will also come at a time when Kenya is looking ahead to the 2027 General Election.

However, the family has emphasised that the anniversary is meant to be inclusive rather than owned by a particular political individual or institution. The family has called for people from different communities, generations and chapters of Raila's life to participate. 

This position is particularly relevant given Raila's long political career and the many political alliances he formed over the years.

His relationships with political figures changed at different points in his career, but his influence remained a major feature of Kenya's political landscape.

The first anniversary is therefore likely to bring together people who knew Raila in different capacities: family members, former political colleagues, opponents, supporters, academics, religious leaders and ordinary citizens.