The women who stood by Raila through political highs and lows

By  Cecil Odongo

Reporter

Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

• They stood by him through detention, political persecution and five presidential bids.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s long political career was shaped not only by his supporters and male political allies but also by women who stood by him through detention, political persecution, and repeated presidential bids, while others helped strengthen his position within the party.

As Kenyans marked the first anniversary of his death on October 15, the roles played by his wife, Ida Odinga, and women in his political circle offered a glimpse into the personal sacrifices, political alliances, and strategic decisions that helped sustain his influence over decades.

Ida Odinga

Ida stood by him through years of detention, political persecution, and exile, as well as his long pursuit of the presidency.

One of the most difficult periods came after Raila’s arrest in 1982 over his alleged involvement in the failed coup attempt. He was detained without trial until 1988, leaving Ida to raise their young children while continuing her teaching career. She later lost her job at Kenya High School and was required to leave the staff accommodation.

Ida also endured the consequences of Raila’s repeated arrests as he campaigned for multiparty democracy between 1988 and 1991.

Raila contested the presidency five times, in 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017 and 2022, but never won the seat. In 2017, the Supreme Court annulled the presidential election results and ordered a fresh election, marking a significant moment in Kenya’s electoral history. At the Azimio la Umoja Convention in December 2021, Raila paid a special tribute to Ida, acknowledging her support during his years of detention and political isolation.

“But there was a positive side to my story. It is about a friend. A ‘Lando’ of legendary beauty, with the brave heart of Luanda Magere. And this is the woman who stood by me when I was shunned by many. This is the wife of my youth, love of my life and partner to death - Mama Ida Betty Odinga,” he said.

“In those hard times of long and uncertain incarceration, if I was not reading the Holy Bible, I found deep solace in Mama Ida’s love and support. She became a constant guest of the police cells through constant arrests and harassment. I can’t thank her enough,” he added.

Phoebe Asiyo

One of Raila’s earliest female political allies was Phoebe, who won the Karachuonyo parliamentary seat in the 1992 multiparty elections on a Ford Kenya ticket. The party was then led by Raila’s father, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

Following Jaramogi’s death in 1994, Ford Kenya was engulfed in a bitter leadership contest between Raila and Saboti MP Wamalwa Kijana. Several prominent politicians from Nyanza, including then Ugenya MP James Orengo, backed Mr Wamalwa.
Phoebe was among the few Luo Nyanza politicians who supported Raila’s bid to take over the party leadership. Recognising his political ambition and the leadership vacuum in Luo Nyanza, she convened a meeting of the region’s leaders at her home in Wikondiek after Jaramogi’s burial. The meeting endorsed Raila as the region’s political leader, helping consolidate his position at a critical moment in his career.

When Phoebe died on 16 July, 2025, aged 90, Raila paid tribute to her as a courageous leader who fought for women’s rights.
“We acknowledge and celebrate her daring attitude that saw her enter into the then male-dominated electoral politics and not only win but also floored giants,” he said.

Charity Ngilu

Charity political relationship with Raila evolved over the years. During much of the 1990s, she was associated with opposition leaders Mwai Kibaki and Wamalwa.

In Luo Nyanza, her political ally was Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, who was nominated to Parliament through her Social Democratic Party after losing the 1997 Kisumu Rural parliamentary election. The political landscape changed following the National Rainbow Coalition’s (Narc) victory in the 2002 elections.

Charity, who had a fierce political rivalry with former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, increasingly aligned herself with Raila on key political questions.

Months after Narc took power, Raila sought to chair the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Review in 2003, facing then Kabete MP and veteran lawyer Paul Muite.

While some politicians allied to Kibaki and Wamalwa backed Muite, Charity supported Raila, who lost the contest, securing nine against Muite’s 19. Charity stood with Raila in the 2007 presidential election, despite Kalonzo's attempt to rally the Ukambani region behind his ODM-Kenya presidential bid.

She retained her Kitui Central seat on a Narc ticket despite the political wave favouring Kalonzo.

She supported Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidential bid in 2013, when Kalonzo was in the same political camp as Raila. However, she returned to Raila’s side in the 2017 and 2022 elections, both of which he lost.

Agnes Zani

Former nominated Senator Agnes Zani was another trusted ally who played a significant role in ODM’s leadership.

The party nominated her to the Senate in 2013 and again in 2017, with Raila’s influence proving instrumental in her political journey. After the 2013 elections, she became embroiled in a contest for the ODM secretary-general position against former Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba, now Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda. When the party’s elections collapsed on 28 February, 2014 due to chaos at Kasarani, Raila influenced Agnes’ appointment as Ababu’s deputy.

She took over as secretary-general after he resigned in 2016 and aligned himself with the Uhuru Kenyatta- William Ruto political camp. “Those claiming that ODM is nothing without Namwamba are in for a rude shock because ODM will remain strong,” she said after his exit. Agnes remained secretary-general until Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna succeeded her in February 2018.
In August 2025, Raila and President Ruto appointed her chairperson of a five-member committee tasked with implementing the broad-based government agenda and the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report.

Gladys Wanga

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga is among the politicians whose careers benefited significantly from Raila’s political backing.

She served as Homa Bay Woman Representative from 2013 until 2022, when she was elected governor. Ahead of the 2022 elections, Raila prevailed upon John Mbadi, then Leader of the Minority in the National Assembly and Suba South MP, to shelve his gubernatorial ambitions and allow Gladys to vie for the seat.

Mbadi was subsequently nominated to Parliament after the 2022 elections and later appointed Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning after Raila agreed to work with President William Ruto following the Gen Z-led protests in 2024.

Raila also intervened to persuade then Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga to shelve his gubernatorial ambitions and instead become Gladys’s running mate.

In August 2024, Gladys succeeded Mbadi as ODM national chairperson following his appointment to the Cabinet, consolidating her influence within the party and highlighting Raila’s trust in her leadership.

Mumbi Ngaru

Despite hailing from Mount Kenya, a region where Raila faced considerable political opposition, Mumbi remained one of his close associates.

The former Thika mayor has a long history with Raila and was among the founders of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and ODM.

Following the disputed 2007 elections, Raila nominated her to the East African Legislative Assembly.

“I thank the Prime Minister for nominating me to the EALA and I would want more women given legislative roles as we are capable of delivering and representing the country,” she said after her nomination.
Her appointment demonstrated Raila’s willingness to bring political allies from outside his traditional support base into positions of responsibility.

Millie Odhiambo

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo built her political profile through her unwavering defence of Raila and the ODM party.

Following the 2007 elections, she was nominated to Parliament by ODM. In 2013, when the former Mbita constituency was renamed Suba North, she won the party primaries and secured the seat. She succeeded former Cabinet minister Otieno Kajwang’, who had represented the constituency since 1997 before winning the Homa Bay Senate seat in 2013.

Millie has successfully defended her parliamentary seat in subsequent elections and is currently serving her fourth term.

Beth Syengo

Beth also emerged as one of Raila’s close associates in the years leading up to his death in October 2025. Following the 2022 elections, she was nominated to the Senate. In April 2024, while announcing her intention to contest the Kitui woman representative seat, she appealed to voters to reciprocate the confidence Raila had shown in her.

“If the ODM leader Raila Odinga recognised my leadership qualities and prowess and nominated me a senator, I expect you as people of my home Kitui county to treat me more favorably by voting for me in the coming election,” she said. Her political ambitions reflected the influence Raila wielded in bringing leaders from outside his traditional strongholds into national politics.