What You Need to Know
Ida Odinga, Kenya’s Ambassador to the UN Environment Programme, has addressed her absence from political engagements following the death of her husband, Raila Odinga. She emphasized that her silence was a personal choice during her mourning period and clarified her non-political stance, despite her family’s political connections.
Africa-Press – Kenya. The Kenyan Ambassador and Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme Ida Odinga has broken her silence on her absence from recent political engagements.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Ida said she had been in mourning following the loss of her husband, Raila Odinga.
Ida said her decision to stay away from political activities was deliberate and deeply personal.
“Just as we said, I have been silent for some time. When I lost my husband, Honourable Raila Odinga, I was still in the state of mourning, which was very important to me,” she said.
She added that her grieving period made it impossible for her to engage in the political conversations that had been ongoing.
“Therefore, I was not able to come out and participate in any political arrangement that you people are talking about,” she noted.
Ida also sought to clarify her position in the political space, distancing herself from active politics despite being surrounded by political figures.
“Personally, I am not a politician. My husband was, my daughter is; my brother-in-law is also a politician; people around me are, but I am an industrialist and not a politician,” she said.
Her remarks come amid heightened political activity and speculation over alignments, with her absence having drawn attention in recent weeks.
Other than the late Raila Odinga, Ida’s close relatives in the political arena include her last-born daughter, Winnie Odinga, who serves as a member of the East African Legislative Assembly, and Raila’s elder brother, Oburu Oginga, who succeeded the former Prime Minister as ODM party leader.
Her sister-in-law, Ruth Odinga, is the Kisumu Woman Representative and also sits in the ODM National Executive Council (NEC).
It had been widely expected that Ida would influence succession within ODM, but she has maintained a consistent silence—even after Winnie publicly declared her interest in the party leadership currently held by her uncle.
President William Ruto formally appointed Ida as Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative in the Foreign Service following approval by the National Assembly.
In a gazette notice dated February 27, 2026, the Head of State invoked Article 132(2)(e) of the Constitution.
Her nomination had earlier been approved on February 24 by the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations after a vetting process in Parliament.
Ida appeared before the committee on February 20, where she outlined her priorities and vision for Kenya’s engagement with the global environmental body.
Ida Odinga has been a prominent figure in Kenya, particularly through her marriage to Raila Odinga, a key political leader. Raila’s passing has left a significant impact on the political landscape, with many speculating about the future of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and potential leadership changes. Ida’s recent statements highlight the personal toll of political life and the complexities of navigating public expectations during times of grief. Her role as an ambassador also underscores the intersection of personal and political identities in Kenya’s evolving political scene.
