NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 30 — Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei on Friday presented Mama Ida Odinga with a collection of condolence messages and memorabilia in honour of her late husband, Raila Odinga, during a ceremony held at the family’s Karen home.
The solemn event, attended by diplomats, senior government officials, scholars and close family members, marked Kenya’s appreciation of the global solidarity shown following Raila’s death and celebrated his enduring legacy as both a national and international statesman.
Speaking at the ceremony, PS Sing’Oei said the handover symbolised the gratitude of the Government of Kenya and the Foreign Service for Raila Odinga’s life of service, as well as the support extended to the country and the Odinga family by international partners during the period of national mourning.
“These messages have been carefully bound together as expressions of shared loss and deep respect,” Sing’Oei said.
“Reading through these pages, it is clear that Raila Odinga was mourned not only as a Kenyan leader but as a global statesman whose voice carried hope, whose courage inspired many, and whose commitment to justice and democracy resonated far beyond our borders.”
He noted that at critical moments in Kenya’s history, Raila consistently chose dialogue over discord and placed the long-term good of the nation above personal ambition, both at home and abroad.
The compendium comprises four volumes. The first contains original tributes and condolence messages from heads of state and government, while the second and third volumes capture reflections from global leaders and institutions.
International admiration
A fourth volume completes the collection, underscoring the breadth of international admiration for the late statesman.
Sing’Oei said the volumes were intended for posterity, announcing that additional sets would be deposited at the Kenya National Archives, the Kenya National Library Service, the Foreign Affairs Library, and the Foreign Affairs Gallery at Uhuru Gardens to allow public access and reflection on Raila’s legacy.
He further revealed plans by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Odinga family, to establish a Raila Odinga museum in Bondo, alongside an annual conference bearing his name that will convene scholars, diplomats and statesmen to deliberate on democracy, diplomacy and governance.
“In view of Raila Odinga’s immense contribution to democracy and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, we are establishing an annual conference named after him to bring together scholars, statesmen and practitioners of diplomacy from Africa and around the world,” Sing’Oei said.
“With your permission, we will do this annually.”
During the ceremony, the PS also congratulated Mama Ida Odinga on her nomination as a United Nations ambassador and representative to the UN offices in Nairobi and UNEP, describing the role as fitting given her long record of public service.
Deeply moved
Receiving the volumes, Mama Ida expressed gratitude on behalf of the family, saying they were deeply moved by the global outpouring of support.
“It is a great honour to know that people far beyond our immediate circle remembered and honoured Raila,” she said.
“Being his wife for 52 years was a privilege. He was a great family man, and now that he is gone, we must carry his legacy and live according to his dreams.”
She also thanked President William Ruto and the government for ensuring Raila’s final wishes were respected, and for the support extended to the family during a difficult period.
Raila Odinga, who died on October 15 2025 in India aged 80, was one of Kenya’s most iconic political figures.
A freedom fighter, reformist and five-time presidential contender, he stood at the centre of the country’s political life for more than four decades and is remembered by many as “the President Kenya never had.”
Born in January 1945 to Kenya’s first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Raila rose to prominence in the 1980s as a fierce critic of the one-party state, enduring detention without trial for his activism.
He later became a key architect of Kenya’s multiparty democracy and a towering voice for reform across Africa.
