‘It was an ordinary check-up, nothing serious’: Ida Odinga on why she didn’t accompany Raila to India

Ida Odinga has revealed that she did not accompany her husband, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, to India because she understood that he was travelling for a routine medical check-up and did not believe his condition was serious.

Ida, who spoke on Wednesday to Citizen TV at her Opoda Farm in Bondo, Siaya County, ahead of the first anniversary of Raila’s death, said she would have travelled with him had she known that he was seriously ill.

“When he left for India, he was just going for a check-up. There was nothing serious. Had it been serious, I would have gone with him. I would not have left him alone,” she said.

Ida noted that the former Prime Minister underwent medical examinations after arriving in India and was reportedly doing well.

“He went to the hospital, where they examined him and took scans, and he was declared to be doing very well,” Ida recounted.

According to Ida, Raila was initially expected to return home after the check-up but subsequently opted to take a short holiday in Kerala, a destination she said people visit for relaxation and health-related breaks.

“After that, he was supposed to come back, but he said he wanted to take a short holiday in Kerala. Many people go to Kerala for health holidays because you can relax there,” she said.

She says the family had also made arrangements for their children to meet Raila in Dubai, with some family members already there and others expected to travel. Ida, on the other hand, remained in Nairobi to attend to other commitments while the family members coordinated their travel plans.

“We had also asked the children to go and meet him in Dubai. John and his family were already in Dubai, Winnie was with him, and Rosemary was supposed to travel to Dubai with her family,” she said.

“I was the only one left behind because there were so many things I had to do in Nairobi."

The former Prime Minister died after collapsing while in India, where he had travelled for medical attention. Ida said she had spoken to him the day before his death and that their conversation gave her no indication that he was unwell.

“The day before he passed away, we talked quite a lot. We were talking about ordinary things. There was nothing unusual, no alarm and nothing to suggest that he was unwell. He even assured me that he was feeling very well and that there was nothing wrong,” she said.