Please stop going to Mama Ida’s house, ODM's Sifuna appeals as grief overwhelms Odinga family

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has appealed to supporters of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to stop visiting Mama Ida Odinga’s residence, saying she is overwhelmed by the large number of mourners flocking to her home following her husband’s death.

Speaking on Wednesday at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where leaders had gathered before departing for India to bring back the body of the late opposition leader, Sifuna said the party was considering alternative venues for supporters to gather and mourn together.

“If you talk to many of the leaders in ODM and those who knew Mzee, some of us spoke to him as late as yesterday, and he was okay, so we didn’t really expect this. I want to make a very special request, both as a leader in Nairobi and as the Secretary General of ODM, our people must now stop going to Mama Ida’s house because she is there alone and she is overwhelmed,” he said.

Designated points for mourners

Sifuna added that ODM leadership was working on setting up designated points where mourners could pay their respects without overwhelming the family.

“We understand the love, and in fact, the discussion amongst the leadership is that we need to set up some points for people who would want to mourn Mzee, it doesn’t necessarily have to be in Karen,” he said.

The ODM Secretary-General extended condolences to Raila Odinga’s family and party members, expressing regret that the news of the opposition leader’s death reached the public before an official announcement could be made.

“I want to take this opportunity to say pole to the entire ODM fraternity and to the family of the late Raila Odinga. I want to apologise to the members of ODM and the country in general for the delay in the morning because this news was broken by other media before we could do that,” he said.

Sifuna explained that the party had to wait for an official statement from the Head of State due to Raila Odinga’s national and continental stature.

Wait for official announcement

“We had to wait for the Head of State to make that announcement officially because Raila Odinga was not just the leader of ODM; he was a statesman and a Pan-Africanist,” he said.

“His elder brother, Oburu Odinga, was upcountry, and we had to wait for him to come to Nairobi so that the announcement could be made.”

He also urged Kenyans to remain peaceful during the mourning period, saying violence would dishonour Odinga’s legacy.

“We want to ask as well that everybody maintains peace. You should ask yourself before you do anything what Mzee would have wanted, what would make him smile and proud of you in this particular moment. There is no point in causing any mayhem, disrupting traffic, or attacking anybody’s business. This is not what Mzee would have wanted,” he noted.

Soon after Raila’s death was confirmed, hundreds of mourners thronged the Odinga residence in Karen, overwhelming security and family members who were struggling to maintain order. Witnesses described confusion, pushing, and panic as emotional supporters tried to access the compound.

Other Topics To Read

• Headlines
• National
• India
• ODM
• Raila Odinga
• Edwin Sifuna
• Mama Ida Odinga
• Kenya mourns Raila Odinga
• Kerala
• Please stop going to Mama Ida’s house
• ODM's Sifuna appeals as grief overwhelms Odinga family

Visibly shaken

Mama Ida Odinga, visibly shaken, attempted to calm the crowd, but her voice was drowned out by chants and slogans.

At one point, mourners broke into cries of “Ruto Must Go!”, reportedly directed at President William Ruto, who had earlier visited the home to console the family. It remains unclear whether the President was still present when the commotion began.

Despite the tension, Mama Ida called for calm and peace.

ODM leaders, including Homa Bay Governor and ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga and Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris, joined the family in Karen. Wanga was scheduled to address the media at 1:00 p.m., but the briefing was postponed amid the confusion.

“We are all too emotional. Let us first calm down and stand with the family,” Governor Wanga said.

Emotional message

Hours later, Mama Ida Odinga addressed Kenyans outside her home, delivering an emotional message.

“I am very sorry to all Kenyans; we did not expect it would be like this, but it has happened. Please remain calm,” she said tearfully.

Meanwhile, chaos broke out in parts of Nairobi’s CBD, where crowds mourning the ODM leader clashed with police after looters infiltrated peaceful processions.

What began as a solemn march turned violent when criminal elements took advantage of the emotional crowds to loot shops and attack traders.

Shops shut

Videos circulating online showed people fleeing as police struggled to restore order. Traders hurriedly shut their businesses as the situation escalated.

Police have since reinforced security in major towns as Kenya observes a seven-day national mourning period declared by President William Ruto.

In a national address, President Ruto said Raila Odinga would be accorded a state funeral with full honours, and that flags would fly at half-mast across the country and at Kenyan missions abroad.

“In honour of the Right Honourable Raila Odinga and his immense contribution to the nation of Kenya, I have declared a seven-day period of mourning across Kenya, during which the national flag shall fly at half-mast across the nation and in our missions abroad,” Ruto said.

Funeral committee

A funeral committee chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and co-chaired by Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga has been established to oversee the arrangements.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi is leading a delegation to India to facilitate the repatriation of Raila’s body, with the Indian government offering assistance.

“At the request of the Government of Kenya, the Government of India has offered to facilitate the repatriation of the remains of Raila. A delegation comprising government officials and family members led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi is leaving immediately for India to facilitate proper organisation in the repatriation of the remains of our brother, the Honourable Raila Odinga,” Ruto said.

Mama Ida Odinga has since joined the delegation to India.

Raila Odinga, who died at the age of 80 in Kerala, India, was widely regarded as a symbol of democracy, reform, and national unity.