In the midst of grief and solemn remembrance at Nyayo Stadium, a moment of unexpected laughter rose from the crowd—sparked by none other than Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga.
Standing before thousands gathered to honor the life and legacy of his brother, the late Raila Odinga, Oburu chose honesty and humor to introduce both of his wives to the public for the very first time. His reason for marrying a second, younger wife? Uncanny, deeply personal—and disarmingly human.
“She is the one who took me from boyhood. She has been, and still is, good to me,” he said, nodding to his first wife. “But at my age, I don’t want her to scratch me, to massage me, so I brought her helper, Judith Oburu,” he added with a wry smile.
The crowd erupted. Mourners—from dignitaries and diplomats to clergy and everyday Kenyans—were swept up in laughter, if only briefly, in a moment that lightened the weight of the day.
But the Senator’s levity gave way to raw emotion as he reflected on his late brother—not just as a national icon, but as blood.
“He was my brother, my friend, my confidant, and adviser,” Oburu said, his voice trembling with emotion. “Losing him is like losing part of myself.”
His tribute was not just a farewell, but a bridge between public memory and personal loss.
Oburu also took the opportunity to thank the ODM Party for entrusting him with the mantle of leadership after Raila’s passing.
“I want to thank my party, ODM, for making me the acting party leader of the largest political party in East and Central Africa,” he said, to resounding applause.
Later, Mama Ida Odinga took the stage with grace and fire, reminding mourners of her husband’s unwavering values.
“Raila hated dishonesty. He hated greed—especially the kind that robs the public,” she said. “He was a man of deep integrity.”
In a ceremony marked by sorrow, remembrance, and national pride, Oburu Odinga’s honest humor served as a reminder of what made the Odinga family both revered and relatable: their ability to connect with the heart of the nation.
Even in farewell, there was laughter. And perhaps that, more than anything, is how Raila Amolo Odinga would have wanted to be remembered.
