Long live the crown: Passaris heaps praise on Winnie Odinga after TV interview
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has praised East African Legislative Assembly Member of Parliament Winnie Odinga following her media interview aired on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
In a statement shared on her X account on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, Passaris said Winnie displayed political maturity, clarity and conviction during the interview.
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She described her as a strong continuation of the values of her late father, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, while also showing she is stepping forward in her own right.
“Political maturity. Clarity. Conviction. Winnie Odinga nailed her interview yesterday. A proud continuation of her father’s values, and a clear step forward in her own right. The King is dead, but long live the crown,” Passaris stated.
Winnie, who has grown in public profile before and after her father’s death, addressed several issues touching on the Orange Democratic Movement and the current political environment. However, what drew the most attention was her response to claims that the Odinga family is divided ahead of a planned family meeting convened by ODM leader Oburu Odinga.
No family feud
Winnie dismissed the claims, insisting there is no feud within the family. She said the matter had been exaggerated and misunderstood, explaining that differences of opinion should not be interpreted as division.
According to her, private family matters are handled privately, while party matters should be discussed through official party channels.
“There is no family feud. If there was a family feud, I doubt he would tell me that in public. He is a funny guy. Mambo ya nyumbani tunaongea kinyumbani, but mambo ya chama is not to be discussed at home,” Winnie said.
She maintained that the Odinga family remains united and close, saying the situation had been blown out of proportion and turned into a national issue unnecessarily. Winnie added that she respects Oburu Odinga and that their relationship remains intact.
“I love Dr Oburu, he is my only dad. I don’t know why this has become national news. Our family is tight. We have no problems at all,” she said.
Winnie also spoke about her criticism of ODM’s operations, saying her concerns should not be taken as personal attacks. She said the party must respect its constitution and values, and that leaders should conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles on which ODM was built.
“ODM has not fulfilled its mandate in an open manner,” she said.
“I love my uncle and my uncle loves me. The issue is people misrepresenting themselves and moving in a manner that is not respectful to the creeds of the party. They are not being respectful to the constitution of ODM,” Winnie said.
