In an emotional interview, Winnie Odinga opens up about her father’s legacy, the state of ODM, and the push for internal party reforms.
NAIROBI, Kenya – In her first extensive interview since the passing of her father, the late opposition leader Raila Odinga, Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Winnie Odinga has addressed the grieving family, the internal dynamics of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), and the political road ahead.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s The Explainer on Thursday night, Winnie described coping with her father’s death as a daily challenge.
“I’m doing as best as I can. It’s quite difficult living in a world without him,” she said. “Some days I’m on a hill, some days I’m in a valley.”
A Complex Relationship and a Clear Legacy
Reflecting on her relationship with her father, Winnie said Raila was not only her parent but also her party leader, mentor, and closest friend.
She dismissed recent claims by various politicians about private last conversations with Raila, stating it was “disrespectful to the departed” to publicize private talks. She emphasized that the only reliable guides to his wishes were public documents like the 10-Point Agenda with the government, his manifesto, and his public pronouncements.
ODM at a Crossroads: “Not Born in a Bedroom”
Winnie expressed strong concerns about the current direction of ODM. She criticized party officials for making decisions without broad consultation, referencing the swift installation of her uncle, Dr. Oburu Odinga, as acting party leader.
“The party has not once come to address us as members to inform us our party leader died, they’ve picked a new team,” she stated.
While affirming her love and respect for Dr. Oburu, she insisted that all party appointments must follow the ODM constitution and be ratified by the National Delegates Convention (NDC).
She was particularly critical of early talks about a pre-election coalition pact with the ruling UDA party, calling them “premature.”
“Pre-election pacts are done three months to an election, not a year and a half [before],” she argued, stressing that ODM must first organize itself, re-energize its grassroots, and hold a genuine NDC.
The 10-Point Agenda: The Only Basis for Engagement
Winnie asserted that any future negotiation with the government or other parties must be based on an assessment of the 10-Point Agenda, which expires in March 2026.
“If you trash it and you have not completed it, then on what basis are you negotiating?” she asked. She expressed dissatisfaction with progress on key agenda items, including compensation for victims, anti-corruption efforts, and creating space for youth.
On Family and Public Scrutiny
Winnie pushed back against what she called excessive personalization of politics. She firmly denied any family feud, stating, “I love my uncle. Our family is tight.”
She also defended her mother, Ida Odinga, following her nomination as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat, saying she had earned the position through decades of independent public service.
Responding to a viral clip where she told President William Ruto at her father’s funeral, “I am ready to come back home,” Winnie clarified she was not asking for a job but expressing her desire to serve Kenya directly. She acknowledged the President’s kindness to her family after Raila’s death but maintained that her political loyalty lies with the people’s voice.
The Path Forward: Reforms, Not Factions
Winnie dismissed notions of deep factions within ODM, framing disagreements as a healthy part of a 20-year-old party. She called for party reforms to decentralize power and strengthen grassroots structures.
“The only conversation the leadership of ODM should be having now is the well-being of the people of Kenya,” she concluded.
The interview signals Winnie Odinga’s emerging role as a vocal advocate for party democracy and a guardian of her father’s political creed, setting the stage for a pivotal chapter in ODM’s history.
