From 'Chogo' (last-born) to senator? Winnie Odinga steps into her own political spotlight

Winnie Odinga is seeking to step out of her father Raila Odinga’s shadow by announcing her bid for Nairobi senator in 2027.

As Raila Odinga’s body made its final journey home from India, his youngest daughter, Winnie, held tightly to his familiar cream-coloured fedora. It was one of the few things she could still protect, a small piece of a man whose presence had filled her life and Kenya’s political imagination for decades.

The image of Winnie carrying her father’s hat was deeply personal. The country was mourning a political giant, but she was mourning her father.

A year later, on the first anniversary of Raila’s death, Winnie has announced her intention to contest the Nairobi Senate seat in the 2027 General Election.

The timing is poignant. On a day devoted to remembering her father, she has declared her own political ambitions, signalling a shift from being one of the most recognisable faces of the Odinga family to a politician seeking a mandate in her own right.

Source: Standard