“I am an industrialist and not a politician”- Ida Odinga Breaks Silence

Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Ida Odinga, has spoken out on her recent absence from public and political engagements. Her remarks come amid growing political speculation surrounding the Odinga family and shifting alignments within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Ida said her silence was intentional and deeply personal, linked to the death of her husband, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. She explained that she needed time away from public life to grieve and reflect. “I was still in the state of mourning, which was very important to me,” she said, adding that this made it difficult to engage in political discussions.

She firmly distanced herself from active politics, despite being surrounded by influential political figures in her family. Ida stated clearly, “Personally, I am not a politician. My husband was, my daughter is… but I am an industrialist and not a politician.” Her comments were aimed at correcting public perception that she may be involved in political succession debates.

Her absence had sparked speculation, especially as ODM continues to face internal discussions on leadership direction. Figures within her family, including her daughter Winnie Odinga and brother-in-law Oburu Oginga, remain active in political roles, further fueling public interest in her position.

Ida, however, insisted she has no involvement in political arrangements or succession talks. She emphasized that her focus has shifted to her diplomatic role at UNEP, where she represents Kenya in global environmental discussions following her recent appointment.

She urged the public and political actors to respect her position and allow her to remain outside partisan debates. Her statement comes at a sensitive moment in Kenya’s political landscape, where future alignments are already being shaped ahead of the 2027 elections.