Manyora: Why Ida Odinga should emulate Mama Ngina after Raila’s death
By Mabonga Makhanu, October 21, 2025Seasoned political analyst Herman Manyora has urged Mama Ida Odinga to emulate Mama Ngina Kenyatta in how she conducted herself following the death of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta in 1978.
While speaking during an interview on his channel on Monday, October 20, 2025, Manyora noted that, given Raila Odinga’s political stature, the Odinga family should take a similar approach to that of the Kenyatta family by remaining cautious, firm, and discreet in political matters.
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He further insisted that Mama Ida should study how Mama Ngina handled herself with silence, caution, and measured firmness during Kenya’s transition to multiparty democracy and how the Kenyatta family later managed to maintain political influence, culminating in Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidency.
He advised that if Mama Ida were to take public political positions, it could risk damaging Raila Odinga’s legacy. For instance, openly supporting President William Ruto or publicly opposing him could both have negative implications. Manyora explained that the Raila family, much like the Kenyatta family, should remain guarded and avoid openly declaring political allegiances.
“If they want to play within the context of Kenyan politics, given who their person was, they should do like Mama Ngina Kenyatta and just study Mama Ngina from 1978, when Mzee Jomo Kenyatta died. Let them just study,” Manyora said.
“The silence, the caution, the firmness, the families – when that was called for, when a decision arrived at with a multi-party democracy, what role did the Kenyatta family play? How they went and how finally, even Uhuru became president.”
Future of ODM
On the future of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Manyora said that the Odinga family should avoid issuing public statements about the party’s leadership or succession. According to him, politics can be conducted quietly and strategically, rather than through public declarations.
He warned that if the Odinga family openly supported a particular candidate or faction within ODM, it could lead to divisions and the eventual collapse of the party. Similarly, endorsing President Ruto could be seen as betraying what Raila Odinga stood for, thus spoiling his legacy.
Post-mourning period
Manyora further stated that after the mourning period, Mama Ida should focus on family and business matters while keeping off active politics, as this is a very fluid political period in which the direction of national politics remains unpredictable.
Remaining silent and neutral, he suggested, would best preserve Raila Odinga’s enduring legacy.
“So it’s good for Raila, for Mama Aida, after this morning period to concentrate on family issues and family business, trying as much as possible to keep off publicly politics, because this is a very fluid, fluid period we are in. You don’t know the direction of people, and since you can’t influence the direction of things, you better keep quiet.” Manyora added.