Until recently, Ida Betty Odinga, the widow of the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has been in the limelight on many occasions following her husband’s death.
From leading Raila’s burial ceremonies to receiving visitors on behalf of the family during condolence visits, and following her recent appointment as an ambassador by William Ruto’s government, Ida has remained in the public eye.
While many refer to her as “Mrs Odinga,” she has for a long time declined the title, and Times Digital takes a look at why she prefers otherwise.
Why not Mrs Odinga?
Have you ever wondered why Ida Odinga has never wanted to be referred to as “Mrs Odinga”? Here is the reason behind it.
During a past interview on the KMB Podcast on October 29, 2025, Dennis Onyango, the personal assistant and head of the secretariat to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, recalled the first time he called Ida 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.
In response, Onyango revealed that Ida Odinga did not want to be referred to as “Mrs Odinga.” Instead, she preferred to be addressed simply as “Ida.”
While fully acknowledging her role and position as Raila Odinga’s wife, she emphasized her desire to maintain her own identity beyond being defined solely by her husband’s prominent name and political legacy.
By using her name, Ida, rather than “Mrs Odinga,” she chose not to carry the weight that comes with the Odinga name—associated with Kenya’s first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and his son, her late husband Raila Odinga, a well accomplished politician in Kenya.
