Emotional: Winnie Odinga Hands Over Raila’s Iconic Cap to Ida Odinga at JKIA

In a poignant scene that has captivated the nation, Winnie Odinga, daughter of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, handed over her father’s signature white fedora to his widow, Ida Odinga, upon the arrival of his remains at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) this morning.

The gesture, captured on video and photos that quickly went viral, symbolized the transfer of a political and personal legacy amid Kenya’s collective mourning for the opposition icon who died suddenly on October 15 in India.

Raila Odinga, 80, succumbed to a heart attack while undergoing treatment at Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Hospital in Koothattukulam, Kerala. Known as “Baba” and “Agwambo,” he was a five-time presidential candidate, architect of multiparty democracy, and key figure in the 2008 power-sharing agreement and 2018 “Handshake” with former President Uhuru Kenyatta.Details of the Handover

Arrival and Ceremony: Raila’s body arrived via Kenya Airways flight KQ 205 from Mumbai at approximately 6:30 a.m. local time. Winnie, who had accompanied the casket from India after being at his bedside in his final hours, emerged carrying the fedora. She had placed it on the casket prior to departure as a mark of respect.

The Exchange: As family members reunited on the tarmac, surrounded by President William Ruto, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and hundreds of supporters performing Luo mourning rituals with tree branches, Winnie approached Ida. In a tearful embrace, she placed the hat—Raila’s trademark accessory from decades of rallies—into her mother’s hands. Eyewitnesses described the moment as “heart-wrenching,” with no words exchanged but profound emotion evident.

Symbolism: The fedora represented Raila’s resilient style and public persona, often seen at events where he danced to reggae or rallied under his Azimio la Umoja coalition’s tractor emblem. Political analysts interpret the handover as a familial passing of the torch, with Winnie, a key operative in Raila’s 2022 campaign, yielding to Ida, his wife of 52 years.