Winnie Odinga has shared a lighthearted memory of her late father, Raila Odinga, during her time studying in the United States.
Speaking in a throwback (TBT) interview that is now trending online, Winnie recalled how her father’s official visit to her university campus caused an unexpected stir — and earned her the nickname “African princess.”
The Surprise Campus Visit
At the time, Raila was serving as Kenya’s Prime Minister. Winnie explained that she had deliberately chosen to pursue her studies abroad and distance herself from politics.
After settling into campus life on a scholarship, she was surprised when her parents planned a visit just a month later.
Ahead of Raila’s arrival, security personnel reportedly inspected her dormitory. The following day, a full motorcade accompanied him to the campus — instantly drawing attention from students.
Winnie recounted being summoned by student leaders who asked why she had not disclosed that her father was a high-ranking government official. To her, it had never seemed like a secret.
“Are You the African Princess?”
As word spread about the convoy, rumors circulated among students that an African king had visited the campus.
During a college party, Winnie said an American student excitedly approached one of her friends and asked, “Oh my God, are you the African princess?”
The moment became a humorous campus legend, with her classmates fascinated by the spectacle of official security and diplomatic protocol.
A Personal Reflection
Winnie, who later worked closely with her father during the 2022 General Election and accompanied him abroad during his final months, shared the story as a reminder of how different worlds — politics and ordinary student life — sometimes unexpectedly collide.
The anecdote has resonated widely online, offering a rare glimpse into the personal side of a prominent political family and highlighting the cultural curiosity that often follows global leaders and their families.
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Politics