By Anderson Ojwang
On 15 October 2025, Kenyans and the world witnessed the demise of the enigma, the late Raila Amolo Odinga, the president that Kenya never had but who reigned.
Raila dictated the country’s politics, ruled, reigned and built one of the most powerful political vehicles, the Orange Democratic Movement party (ODM), a party that has braved 20 years of existence to dominate the country’s political space.
But currently, the party is wobbling, and the engines are cracking and jerking, forcing most of the passengers to disembark and board other vehicles.
The exit of the enigma witnessed the dawn of a new political chapter in the family of the late doyen Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. On 15 October 2026, a Thursday, a new political queenpin emerged.
On Thursday, the declaration by EALA MP Winnie Odinga that she would be vying for the Nairobi senatorial seat was just the tip of the iceberg of the tectonic shift in the city’s politics.
In the Odinga family, the current ODM party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, stayed in the shadows of Raila and only took over the mantle after his death.
In the Jaramogi family, it was Raila and Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga who played active political roles and were in constant conflict with the state, while the rest remained in the shadows.
The script is once again replaying with the emergence of Winnie Odinga into the political space, while her brother, Raila Junior, cousin Jaoko Oburu and others have failed to stir any form of political interest despite harbouring political ambitions and will remain confined to her shadow.
Package
The mother of the political tsunami is the Winnie Odinga package, and what she infuses into the presidential and entire general election in a team she decides to support will be a milestone.
For analysts, Winnie is the custodian of the late Raila Amolo Odinga’s socio-economic and political networks within and beyond the country.
Named after South African politician and freedom fighter Winnie Masekela Mandela, the Kenyan Winnie is an iron lady, having managed her father’s three presidential elections and gained vast experience.
Who is Winnie Odinga?
Winnie Odinga is a communications strategist and entrepreneur, and the last-born in Raila’s family.
Born on 6 March 1990 in Nairobi, Winnie began her formal education at Rusinga School in Nairobi, where she completed her primary education.
She then proceeded to Brookhouse International School, also in Nairobi, for her secondary education.
For her higher education, she moved to the United States and enrolled at Drexel University in Philadelphia, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in International Business and Corporate Communication in 2009.
During her time at university, she developed a strong interest in technology, innovation and political communication.
Winnie Odinga returned to Kenya and pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2016 at the United States International University (USIU) in Nairobi.
The Engine
She has described herself as her father’s closest companion, often serving as a close confidante, adviser and occasionally driver.
She joined her father, Raila’s, political machine as a close aide. She managed logistics, coordinated digital campaigns, and often served as his driver and confidante during high-stakes elections.
Winnie has managed her father’s last three presidential elections of 2013, 2017 and 2022, playing a significant role.
While the new Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, sacked the late Raila’s staff, Winnie came to their rescue and has continued to retain them as she plots her political journey.
The 90 Raila employees were instrumental in his vast political barometer and kept him ahead of his political opponents.
Already, the team was in Bondo during the first anniversary of Raila’s death and has been deployed by Winnie as she embarks on her Nairobi senatorial campaign.
International networks
Apart from President William Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who boast an avalanche of international networks, Winnie comes first in the current political class.
Winnie accompanied Raila to most of his international meetings, where he introduced his daughter to his networks, which now come in handy in her new political dispensation.
For Winnie, she already has the key to international links, and most of the presidential aspirants would be angling to tap into the opportunity to support their candidature.
Raila attempts to make Winnie Luo leader
After the 2022 election, Raila brought Winnie along to his meetings with Luo MPs and repeatedly hinted to them that he wanted her to chair the meetings in his absence.
But the move was met with resistance from some MPs, and it was never actualised.
But Raila did not stop with the MPs; he moved on and introduced Winnie to his political allies in Luo land and various parts of the country.
Currently, Winnie has her father’s political machinery, and it is just a matter of time before she releases it to claim her stake.
So, whichever side of the political divide Winnie decides to support, her entry will be a coup for that side.
