EALA MP Winnie Odinga has shared an emotional reflection on the final moments she spent with her father, the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, January 27, the legislator offered an insight into their private bond, her grief, and her determination to uphold his legacy.
Winnie said the conversations she had with her father in his final days were deeply private, noting that revealing them would be disrespectful.
"They were deeply personal and I feel it would be disrespectful of me to share those personal conversations that I had in private with the public. Not every conversation we had was for public consumption. The night before he passed, we sat in his room for two hours discussing everything," she said.
Winnie cautioned against people attributing statements or positions to the late party leader, arguing that doing so disrespects his memory.
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"There are very many people who may now say that the party leader may have said this and that. I feel it is not incumbent of them to bring that into the forefront. I think it is disrespectful to the departed and I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to discuss that," she added.
Reflecting on their long professional and personal journey together, Winnie said she worked closely with her father for 15 years, describing their relationship as one of mutual challenge and respect despite their differences.
"For the last 15 years, I have worked at his side, no matter the dispensation. We are similar in a lot of ways, but in a lot of ways, we were different. We used to challenge each other, we used to test each other and push each other," she continued.
Winnie also spoke about the emotional toll of losing her father, saying she is still navigating grief with the support of her family.
"I think I am doing as best as I can, it’s quite difficult living in a world without him. Some days I am on a hill, some days I am in a valley. I have got a good support system in my family, we are supporting each other. Everybody in my family is settling into their new roles and responsibilities. This has brought us even closer; we meet almost every day and talk every time," she further said.
Winnie also expressed her resolve to carry forward her father’s and grandfather’s vision, saying she wants her life’s work to reflect the values they instilled in her.
"I want to honour my father’s legacy. I walked this journey for a long time with him. I believe in him; I believe certain things he taught me. I want to continue improving the lives of as many people as I can. I believe in his vision, in my grandfather’s vision and I believe in thoroughly doing my best to honour that legacy," she added.
At the same time, Winnie dismissed claims of a rift within the Odinga family, pushing back against claims that political disagreements inside the ODM Party have spilled into personal conflict.
She explained that no such conflict exists and that political matters are deliberately kept out of family discussions.
"There is no family feud. If there was a family feud, I doubt he would tell me that in public. He is a funny guy, we discuss household matters at home, but party matters are not to be discussed at home," she said.
Winnie noted that ODM leader Oburu Odinga fully supports her right to hold independent views and insisted that their relationship remains strong and unaffected by political debates.
"I believe Oburu would be the first person to defend my right to have different opinions. I love Dr Oburu, he is my only dad, I don’t know why this has become national news, our family is tight, we have no problems at all," she added.
Turning to ODM’s leadership, Winnie praised Oburu's role as acting party leader, describing him as a stabilizing force during a difficult transition period for the party.
"I think Dr Oburu Oginga is a wonderful acting party leader in this transition period and he is steadying the ship. This is not a very easy ship to steady, but he is weathering the storm and he has said many times that he is acting transitionally and will make space for other young people," she further said.
Winnie went on to defend Oburu's long political career, arguing that his legacy should not be undermined by internal political struggles.
"My uncle has lived a life of determination, strength and loyalty. Winnie Odinga would be the last person that at his age of 82, would allow his legacy to be besmirched by a political tug of war. We are very happy with him being in the position that he is; he is certainly the best person in that position," she stated.
