Winnie Odinga reveals how Raila Junior made her an Arsenal fan
By Valerian Khakayi, August 24, 2026Winnie Odinga has revealed how her brother, Raila Junior, played a major role in making her an Arsenal fan.
Speaking during a candid interview, Winnie recalled that she became interested in the English Premier League as a child after Raila Junior challenged her to pick a team during an Arsenal-Manchester United match.
“I love Arsenal because of Raila Junior, my brother,” Winnie said.
She recalled that she was playing basketball outside when her brother approached her and asked her to choose between Arsenal and Manchester United.
At the time, Winnie did not follow football and had little knowledge of the teams. She initially picked Manchester United, which excited her brother.
“One day, I was playing basketball outside, and he ran and said, ‘There is an Arsenal-Manchester game; pick which team you support. Pick, pick, pick!’ and I did not know anything; I did not watch football as I was a kid,” she recalled.
“So I think I said Manchester and he got so excited he said, ‘Yes, you would lose.’ I said, ‘Why did you say that?'”
Winnie said she questioned his reaction before changing her choice to Arsenal.
“Then I changed it and said, “Then okay, Arsenal,” because I knew if anything happened in that game and if United won and I had picked them, I would have trouble with him later, so I thought it was better and safer for me to just be on the same side with him,” she explained.
Winnie’s love for Arsenal grew
The East African Legislative Assembly’s (EALA) connection with Arsenal deepened when she joined boarding school around 2003, during the period when Arsenal’s famous ‘Invincibles’ team was emerging.
She further revealed that the headmaster at her school was a huge football fan and that students were encouraged to pick teams to support.
“Then when I went to boarding school, it was around 2003 when the Invincibles were coming, and our headmaster was a massive football fan and the whole boarding school had to pick teams, and that time it was just thrilling. Arsenal was thrilling when we had Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp, Freddie Ljungberg, Kolo Touré, Lehmann, and Sol Campbell; it was just exciting,” she added.
She was particularly impressed by the quality of players Arsenal had across different positions.
“Every position had a star that was so exciting and playing so well, and I just fell in love with them,” Winnie revealed.
Winnie also confirmed that she still watches football and said the sport continues to excite her.
“Yes, I do; yes, it does. I am feeling excited. I think it is the most excited I have been,” she said.
Her story shows how a childhood moment with her brother eventually developed into a lasting love for Arsenal, strengthened by memories of the club’s celebrated Invincibles era.