Little Known Story Of How Raila Odinga's Children Got Their Names
Ida, who had been married to Raila for 52 years since 1973, urged parents to be intentional when naming their children
Marvin Chege 
The late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was a family man and was never afraid of showing it. But have you ever wondered how his children; Fidel Odinga, Rosemary Odinga, Raila Odinga Junior and Winnie Odinga, got their names?
Ida Odinga, widow of the late Raila, delivered a heartfelt tribute to her husband during his State Funeral at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, October 17, where she drew the nation's attention to the story of how she and Raila decided on the names of their four children, each having unique meanings. Ida, who had been married to Raila for 52 years since 1973, urged parents to be intentional when naming their children, saying names can have a lasting impact on their lives.
Fidel, the couple’s firstborn, was born in 1973 and died unexpectedly in 2015 at the age of 41.
Ida revealed that he was named after Fidel Castro, the Cuban revolutionary leader admired by Raila for his boldness and transformative leadership.
"When Fidel was born, I was a bit hesitant about the way he gave the names. I was very hesitant to call him Fidel, then he said he was a great admirer of Fidel Castro and therefore he named his first son Fidel Castro Odinga," she recalled.
Fidel passed away on January 4, 2015, after a night out with friends, and the cause of his sudden death has never been made public. He left behind his wife, Lwam Getachew Bekele, and their son, Allay Odinga.
Their second-born, Rosemary, was born in 1977. Ida shared that her name was created by merging their mothers’ names — Rose (Ida’s mother) and Mary (Raila’s mother).
"Rose is the name of my mother, and Mary is the name of his (Raila's) mother, and we combined the two names together and we called the child Rosemary. It also has a meaning to us," Ida said.
Rosemary, known both for her work in snail farming and her brief foray into politics, had once expressed interest in running for the Kibera parliamentary seat in 2017. However, a brain tumour and aneurysm that caused temporary blindness forced her to step back.
She later underwent Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala, India — the same facility where her father received care before his passing — and her sight began to recover in 2022. She is a mother of two daughters.
Ida clarified a long-standing misconception about her third child’s name, explaining that Junior wasn’t named after his father, but after Raila’s best friend and cousin, Raila Kimbo.
"Then it came to the third one, and he named him after his best friend and his cousin called Raila Kimbo, with whom they shared a name, so we ended up with Raila Oginga Odinga," she explained.
Born in 1979, Raila Junior has been married to Yvonne Wambui Kibukosya since 2011. The couple has one son and has spoken openly about their fertility struggles.
Unlike his siblings, Junior has largely stayed out of politics and focused on business ventures.
The youngest of the Odinga family, Winnie, was born on March 6, 1990 — eleven years after her brother Junior.
Ida revealed that she named her daughter after South African anti-apartheid icon Winnie Mandela, inspired by a historic moment she witnessed while in labour.
"The fourth child, when I went to the hospital in the labour ward, I was watching the television and that's the time when Nelson Mandela had come out of prison after being there for 27 years," she said.
"Raila also had been in prison, but that is not why we named her Winnie. As I was watching the television, I could see Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela holding hands as Nelson Mandela walked out of the gates of the prison."
Ida said she decided that if her baby was a girl, she would be named Winnie Mandela — or Wilson Mandela if it were a boy.
Today, Winnie serves as a member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), representing Kenya.
Raila Odinga's immediate family during the state funeral on October 17, 2025. /PCS
Fidel Castro Odhiambo Odinga
Rosemary Odinga
Raila Odinga's daughter, Rosemary Odinga, flanked by her two daughters paying him tribute at his State Funeral at Nyayo Stadium on October 17, 2025. /PCS
Raila Oginga Odinga (Raila Junior)
Raila Odinga's son, Raila Junior, paying tribute to his father at his State Funeral at Nyayo Stadium on October 17, 2025. /PCS
Winnie Irmgard Odinga
Raila Odinga's daughter Winnie Odinga paying tribute to her father at Nyayo Stadium on October 17, 2025. /PCS
