Ida Odinga, the widow of Kenya’s late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, has paid a deeply personal tribute to her husband, describing him as “half-German” during a condolence visit by German Ambassador to Kenya, Sebastian Groth, at her Karen home on Wednesday.
The German envoy said he was moved by Ida’s words, which reflected the profound connection Raila maintained with Germany — a country that shaped his early education and worldview.
“I just gave condolences to Mama Ida Odinga at her residence in Karen. Wished her strength and courage at this difficult moment. She looked at me and said about Baba: ‘He was half-German,’” Ambassador Groth shared on social media.
Raila Odinga’s ties to Germany date back to the late 1960s when he pursued mechanical engineering studies in the then East Germany at the Technical School of Magdeburg. His time there not only broadened his academic horizons but also influenced his ideals on governance, equality, and social justice — values he carried throughout his political life.
Ambassador Groth noted that Germany joins Kenya in mourning a “visionary leader whose impact transcended borders,” praising Odinga for strengthening democratic ideals and fostering international cooperation.
“Raila Odinga was not only a Kenyan statesman but also a global figure who believed in dialogue, justice, and unity. His legacy will continue to inspire generations,” said Groth.
