Winnie Odinga has explained why she will not reveal the final conversations she shared with her late father, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, insisting that some moments are too personal to be made public.
Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on January 27, Winnie disclosed that she spent about two hours with her father on the night before his death.
According to her, the discussion touched on many issues, but she made it clear that the content of that conversation would remain private.
“We sat in his room for two hours discussing everything,” she said. “Those conversations were deeply personal, and I feel it would be disrespectful of me to share them with the public.”
Winnie cautioned against growing speculation about what Raila Odinga may have said in his final hours, noting that many people often project their own narratives onto the deaths of public figures.
She said such speculation not only distorts the truth but also undermines the dignity of the departed.
“There are very many people who may now say that the party leader may have said this or that,” she said. “I don’t think it is incumbent upon them to bring that into the forefront. It is disrespectful to the departed.”
She emphasized that her decision to remain silent was deliberate and rooted in respect, not secrecy. Winnie said she believes certain conversations are meant to stay between family members, regardless of a person’s public stature.
Beyond the final moments, Winnie reflected on her long and complex relationship with her father, both as a parent and as a political leader.
She revealed that she worked closely with Raila Odinga for more than 15 years across different political dispensations.
“For the last 15 years, I have worked at his side, no matter the dispensation,” she said, adding that their relationship involved both agreement and disagreement.
According to Winnie, they challenged each other intellectually and were never afraid to push back.
She described Raila Odinga as not only her father, but also her party leader, mentor, and closest friend, admitting that coping with his absence has been extremely difficult.
Raila Odinga died on October 15, 2025, aged 80, while undergoing treatment at a hospital in India. His death marked the end of a political career that spanned decades and shaped Kenya’s opposition politics.
He was laid to rest on October 19 at his family home in Kang’o ka Jaramogi, Bondo, Siaya County.
The former Prime Minister was accorded full national and military honours, including a 17-gun salute and the ceremonial Last Post by the Kenya Defence Forces.
The official funeral followed a presidential proclamation by President William Ruto, directing that Raila Odinga be given a state funeral in recognition of his contribution to the nation.
Several leaders, including former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, attended the ceremony.
For Winnie Odinga, however, the public farewell does not extend to the private words exchanged between a father and his daughter. Those, she insists, will remain where they belong.
