Ruth Odinga Defends Family Legacy, Accuses John Mbadi of Undermining Odinga Sacrifices

 Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has strongly defended the Odinga family’s political legacy following remarks by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi during a recent ODM Party retreat in Mombasa, accusing him of attempting to diminish the sacrifices made by the family in Kenya’s struggle for democracy.

In a lengthy statement released after the May 4 retreat, Ruth Odinga said she was personally targeted by Mbadi when he allegedly stated that the ODM Party did not belong to the Odinga family and that no one should feel entitled because they carry the Odinga name.

According to Ruth Odinga, Mbadi further remarked that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was “dead and buried” and that even if he were alive, he would have little influence because current leaders had heavily invested in the party.

“I looked around and I was the only Odinga in the room,” she said, describing the comments as a direct attack on her and the wider Odinga legacy.

The ODM retreat brought together senior party officials, including several Cabinet Secretaries associated with the broad-based government arrangement between President William Ruto and Raila Odinga’s allies.

Ruth Odinga said she attended the meeting in pursuit of party unity, insisting she supports “one united ODM Party” and rejects internal factionalism.

While affirming her respect for ODM Deputy Party Leader Dr. Oburu Oginga, whom she described as a man of integrity who shares the political philosophy of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Raila Odinga, she warned that some individuals within the party were exploiting his trusting nature for selfish political interests.

The Kisumu Woman Representative rejected claims that the Odinga family has benefited from political entitlement, instead recounting years of personal sacrifice and political hardship linked to the family name.

She recalled going into exile after the failed 1982 coup attempt, living in Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and later Norway during a period of heightened government crackdowns on individuals associated with the Odinga family.

“Because of the Odinga name I carry, I lived the experience of exile and harassment. It is not something you would wish for your worst enemy,” she said.

Ruth Odinga also recounted the difficulties she faced travelling into Kenya, saying immigration scrutiny at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport often forced her to rely on assistance from friends to avoid harassment by authorities.

She further disclosed that when Raila Odinga was released from detention in 1991 and needed to leave the country amid fears of re-arrest, he chose Norway because she was already living there in exile.

The veteran politician argued that ODM was built on the support of Kenyans who believed in Raila Odinga’s ideals, not the other way around.

“It is not ODM that made Raila Odinga. It is the people of Kenya who made him who he was because of what he stood for,” she stated.

She accused some leaders within ODM of attacking the Odinga family to secure political positions within the Kenya Kwanza administration, questioning whether criticism of the family was aimed at guaranteeing Mbadi another term in Cabinet.

Ruth Odinga also detailed what she termed personal political sacrifices made to avoid overshadowing her brother’s presidential ambitions.

She revealed that despite winning the ODM nomination for Kisumu governor in 2013, she was allegedly pressured into accepting the deputy governor position under Jack Ranguma because party leaders believed another Odinga holding such a seat would complicate Raila Odinga’s presidential bid.

She said similar considerations affected her political trajectory in 2017 and 2022, when she declined direct party nominations and instead opted to face voters through competitive primaries and general elections.

“I do not intend to use the Odinga name to seek favors,” she said. “I will speak with the people and let them decide based on my agenda.”

Ruth Odinga concluded by saying she had a responsibility to defend the Odinga name from what she called attempts to “devalue” it, insisting that her family and others paid a “blood tax” for the democracy Kenya enjoys today.

Her remarks are likely to deepen debate within ODM over succession politics, party unity, and the future of Raila Odinga’s political legacy.