Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has explained why his wife, Mama Ida Odinga, was absent at the burial of George Oduor, his longtime aide and bodyguard, which was held in Ndori on Saturday. Raila conveyed Ida’s condolences to Oduor’s family, revealing that she is currently out of the country on official duties.
“Let me begin by bringing condolences from my wife, Mama Ida, who cannot be here today because she is on a mission in Korea. That is why she is not here,” Raila stated during the funeral service.
George Oduor, who passed away on April 2 after a short illness, had been a central figure in Raila’s inner circle for decades. Aged 57 at the time of his passing, Oduor began working with Raila in the early 1990s during Kenya’s pro-democracy movement. He officially became Raila’s bodyguard in 1995 but had been active earlier as part of the youth team that offered security to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and the FORD leadership.
In an emotional tribute, Raila described Oduor as a man of “impeccable character innocent, sincere, generous, and trustworthy.” He recalled how Oduor’s calmness, composure, and firm demeanor made him a dependable figure throughout his political journey.
“Even in grief, George was composed firm with the crowds, respectful and calm under pressure. Those were the traits that defined his entire life,” Raila said, referencing Oduor’s role during Jaramogi’s funeral in 1994 when he was among six young men chosen to escort the late leader’s hearse from Nairobi to Bondo.
The funeral was also attended by President William Ruto, who acknowledged Oduor’s service during his time in the ODM party. “I came to know George as a member of ODM then. We were in many places together, and somebody said here I benefited also from his security service and that is true,” the President said.
Oduor is remembered not just as a bodyguard, but as a loyal servant of Kenya’s opposition movement, a man who embodied discretion, loyalty, and integrity.
