People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has sent a heartfelt message of condolence to Mama Ida Odinga and her family following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.
In her message, Karua expressed deep sorrow, describing Raila’s death as a profound personal loss.
“It is with deep shock and profound sadness that I have received the news of the passing of your dear husband, father, friend, and great leader – Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga,” she said.
Karua conveyed her condolences to the Odinga family and the people of Kenya, saying many shared in their grief.
“Please accept my heartfelt condolences, and those of many who stand with you, your family, the people of Kenya, our continent of Africa, and indeed humanity at large,” she wrote.
She described Raila’s career as monumental, saying his legacy towers “like a colossus across Kenya and the African continent.”
According to Karua, Raila’s life was “a testament to courage, endurance, and an unwavering commitment to the liberation and transformation of our nation.”
Karua said few lives had been as fully devoted to justice and democracy as Raila’s. She recalled his years of sacrifice, including imprisonment and separation from family, as he fought for Kenya’s freedom.
“He bore immense personal sacrifice, spending years behind bars and away from his loved ones in pursuit of freedom for all Kenyans. That was his burden to carry,” she said.
Karua also praised Mama Ida Odinga for her strength and endurance throughout Raila’s political struggles.
“But with it came yours, Ida, and that of your entire family,” she noted.
“The weight you have carried as his partner in both life and struggle is beyond what most can imagine, and for that, Kenya owes you and your family an unpayable debt of gratitude.”
Reflecting on their long political association, Karua described Raila as “a fearless defender of the people, a voice for the voiceless, and a steadfast comrade in the fight for the second liberation.”
She said she had the honour of working alongside him for over three decades.
“Sometimes as an ally, sometimes as an opponent, but always united by a shared vision of a freer, fairer Kenya,” she added.
Karua said the loss of Raila Odinga was not only a national tragedy but a continental one.
“The nation and the world have lost a monumental figure, one of Africa’s most consequential sons,” she wrote.
She prayed for comfort for the Odinga family during their time of mourning. “May the Almighty God grant you and your family strength, peace, and comfort in this hour of grief, and may He grant our brother eternal rest,” she said.
Karua concluded her message with a farewell: “Rest in Peace, Jakom. Rest in Peace, Kinara Wangu.”
