Old and unproven allegations about the Odinga family have popped up again on social media in Kenya. This happens just over two months after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga passed away on October 15, 2025, from cardiac arrest while getting treatment in India. He was 80 years old.
A circulating video of Mrs Anyango, or Margaret Anyango, claiming to be the younger wife of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. She says Ida Odinga, Raila’s widow, was unfaithful while Raila was detained in the 1980s. The post alleges this led to the births of Fidel and Winnie, saying they are not Raila’s biological children.
She also claims Jaramogi advised Raila to raise them as his own after his release. On the video, she adds demands for Ida to give up properties in Nairobi areas like Kileleshwa and Lavington to children from Jaramogi’s other wives.
These stories have appeared online before, usually during heated political times or family events. But nothing reliable backs them up.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first vice president after independence, had four wives: Mary Juma, Gaudencia Adeya, Susan Agik, and Betty Adongo. Public records and family history show no wife named Margaret Anyango or Mrs Anyango linked to him.
Are you telling me that Raila Odinga's children are not his,
— DP 🇰🇪 (@DanChepta) December 23, 2025
Based on allegations from Jaramogi Odinga's ex-wife?
She claims that Raila's kids belong to one of his brothers.
This is supposedly backed by the allegation that Raila was rendered infertile
Due to torture he… pic.twitter.com/qa66iKG9kf
Raila faced several detentions under President Daniel arap Moi. His longest stretch ran from 1982 to 1988 after the attempted coup. He had shorter arrests later. The claimed timelines do not line up.
Raila and Ida married in 1973. Their eldest son, Fidel Castro Odinga, was born that year. He died in 2015 at age 41. Winnie Odinga, the youngest child, arrived in 1990, well after Raila’s main detention period ended.
The couple had four children in total: Fidel (1973-2015), Rosemary (born 1977), Raila Junior (born around 1979), and Winnie (1990). All are publicly known and accepted as Raila’s kids. Ida has talked openly about family life, including raising the children mostly alone during Raila’s absences.
No credible reports mention any fertility problems from Raila’s detention or torture that would affect having children later.
The Odinga family has not responded to these recent posts. They are still in mourning after Raila’s death and state funeral.
Raila spent years fighting for multi-party democracy and ran for president five times. His death drew widespread tributes from Kenya and across Africa.
Family members and supporters say they want to remember his contributions rather than deal with old gossip. Property disputes have gone to court in the Odinga family before, but none connect to these accusations.
As of now, these remain unsubstantiated online claims. The facts and timelines simply do not support them.
The Odinga name holds big importance in Kenyan politics, from Jaramogi’s independence role to Raila’s reform efforts.
