Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga, hailing him as Kenya’s political colossus, Africa’s democratic conscience and a leading architect of multiparty democracy in the postcolonial era.
The tribute comes on what would have been Raila’s 81st birthday on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, with the governor urging Kenyans to reflect on a life defined by principle, courage, and an unwavering commitment to justice and equality.
In a statement released by the County Government of Kisumu, Governor Nyong’o urged Kenyans to mark the day not with celebration, but with reflection.
“Today, we mark a birthday not with celebration, but with contemplation; not with applause, but with silence heavy with meaning,” he said, adding that Raila’s absence highlights the rarity of principled leadership in the country.
Nyong’o described Raila as a transformative leader, whose life was an extended argument against injustice, an unrelenting critique of neocolonial power, and a lived example of resistance as a civic duty.
He said Raila belonged to a rare class of leaders who interrupted history, compelling power to pause, reconsider, and realign with moral imperatives.
The governor reflected on Raila’s relentless pursuit of structural justice, noting that he frequently paid a heavy personal price for his convictions.
“His political journey was marked not by convenience, but by conviction; not by opportunism, but by an unshakeable loyalty to the oppressed and excluded. Raila understood that freedom “is never inherited; it is contested, defended, and renewed by each generation,” Nyong’o said.
Raila’s role as the founder and leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) was also central in the tribute.
Nyong’o said the Party was not merely a political outfit, but a school of thought, a moral community, and a vehicle for progressive imagination.
Through ODM, he said, Raila mentored generations of leaders to believe in ethical politics and in holding power accountable to the people.
The tribute extended beyond politics to Raila’s symbolic and personal contributions with Nyong’o describing Raila as a son whose courage dignified Kenya’s collective identity, a figure whose leadership stood persistently at the gates of reform, and a statesman whose influence resonated across Africa and the global community.
“To Africa and the world, he reminded us that democratic struggle in the Global South is neither derivative nor inferior, but original, profound, and costly,” the governor added.
Nyong’o acknowledged the sadness that comes with Raila’s absence, but urged Kenyans to uphold his legacy.
“There is sadness today because his absence reminds us how rare principled leadership truly is. Yet there is intellectual loyalty: a commitment to preserve his ideas, to defend his legacy from distortion, and to carry forward the unfinished work of justice, equality, and national renewal,” he said.
He concluded with a call to action, reminding citizens and leaders alike that Raila’s life exemplified a model of leadership measured not by titles held, but by truths defended.
“May his soul rest in eternal peace. May his ideas continue to disturb injustice. May Kenya, Africa, and the world remain forever indebted to his courage,” Nyong’o said.
Born in Maseno, Kisumu County in 1945 into a family already steeped in political activism, Raila became part of a generation that refused to accept injustice as fate.
From his early days as a young parliamentarian to his decades-long struggle for multiparty democracy, Raila consistently challenged entrenched power structures, often at great personal cost.
Raila, who passed away on October 15, 2025, while undergoing medical treatment in India, is remembered as a leader who consistently challenged the status quo and fought for justice, democracy, and equality.
His 81st birthday is being marked with tributes from leaders, political allies, and ordinary Kenyans across the country.
By Chris Mahandara
