Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s family has returned to the village church where the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is said to have fellowshipped every Christmas while in the village.

Ruth Odinga shared on her Facebook page on Thursday, December 25, 2025, that the atmosphere in the church was heavy, and it was evident that the man who had made it a tradition to fellowship at St Peter’s ACK Nyamira Church, located in Nyamira village and home to Kang’o ka Jaramogi, was deeply missed.

She noted that Raila’s absence was palpable, particularly at his unmarked seat, which had remained conspicuously empty during the first Christmas without him.

“The absence of Raila was palpable. It was evidently in the air. Probably said in hushed tones within the pews. But to the church community in Nyamira, there was an unmarked seat whose occupant was missing,” Ruth stated.

During the emotional service, Ruth Odinga reflected on the struggle to build the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the critical role Raila played in shaping it.

She emphasised that ODM is a political movement with a national outlook, not just a Nyanza or Luo party, with representation in nearly every corner of Kenya.

Ruth Odinga highlighted that this national representation is also evident in the Cabinet. In his wisdom, and guided by the statesmanship he was known for, Raila had recommended names from across the country to serve as cabinet secretaries.

Raila’s contributions

She expressed disappointment that barely two months after laying Rt Hon. Raila to rest, some individuals were defaming his name and the reputation he worked hard to build over the years on social media.

Ruth Odinga further stressed that ODM remains a large and vibrant party, and it is the responsibility of its members to make it even stronger than what Raila left behind. She underlined that the party is capable of fielding a presidential candidate.

With her having declared interest in the top seat recently, she came out to state that should ODM lack a person whom they will field as the top seat contender, they should look for her, saying that she has the capacity to vie for it.

Odinga’s double tragedy

2025 will go down as one of the toughest years for the Odinga family. It was the year they suffered a double tragedy. Three weeks after Raila died in India, they lost another family member, Beryl Odinga, a sister to the late Raila Odinga, who passed away after a long illness.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, while eulogising them at Beryl Odinga’s requiem mass in Nairobi, advised the family not to question their suffering, saying that what they had gone through was akin to what the biblical Job experienced and that they would ultimately triumph in the end.

The church service was attended by all the members of the Odinga family, led by Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, the late spouse of Raila Odinga, Ida Odinga, Rosemary Osinga and Raila Junior.

Politicians led by Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, and other ODM politicians.