The personal assistant and head of the secretariat to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Dennis Onyango, has revealed that Ida Odinga, the widow of the late former Prime Minister, has never wanted to be referred to as “Mrs Odinga”.

During an interview on the KMB Podcast on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Onyango recalled the first time he called her from a telephone booth in an effort to reach Raila Odinga. At the time, Onyango was still a journalist at one of the country’s leading media stations.

He explained that, despite knowing Ida Odinga personally, he had to introduce himself and ask whether he was speaking to “Mrs Odinga” because he was making the call from a public booth.

This prompted a firm response from Ida Odinga, who clarified that she preferred not to be called “Mrs Odinga”. She explained that the Odinga name carries immense significance and power, and that calling herself “Mrs Odinga” would make her lose her personal identity. She preferred to be addressed simply as “Ida”, while still acknowledging her position as Raila Odinga’s wife.

Onyango noted that Ida’s stance reflects her understanding of the symbolic weight of the Odinga name, as well as her desire to maintain her own individuality and identity beyond her husband’s political legacy.

“Who told you that I am Mrs Odinga? Said no, but that’s the name. And he told me no, in this family, a odinga is a very powerful thing, very powerful If I were to call myself Mrs Odinga, I would be lost. I will lose my identity completely. So just call me Idah. I know I am Raila’s wife. But don’t call me Mrs ODing; just called me e Idah,” Onyango stated

Raila’s death prediction

During the same sit-down, Onyango has also revealed that the late opposition leader knew his time was coming to an end long before his death on October 15, 2025.

 Onyango has also said he could tell from Raila’s words and actions that he was preparing to rest and slowly winding up his affairs.

Speaking about his close working relationship with the ODM leader, Onyango said he was among those who encouraged Raila to take a break from public life.

“I am one of those people who pushed him to leave the country, to go and rest somewhere,” he said.

“Slightly more than a year earlier, I told people I knew Raila knew that his time was up. From the way he was talking, from the instructions we were…”