Kenyans mark Raila Odinga’s posthumous 81st birthday with tributes celebrating his legacy as a reformist and defender of democracy.
In a deeply personal message, his elder brother Oburu Odinga described the pain of loss and the closeness they shared, saying they “grew up as twins, sharing so much of life, laughter, and understanding.”
He reflected on Raila’s role as a foremost statesman and recalled the bond they shared beyond politics, adding that although he is gone, “in my heart, you remain alive.” He marked the day as Raila’s “80 + 1 heavenly birthday.”
Political allies echoed similar sentiments, portraying Raila Odinga as a towering national figure whose impact continues to shape Kenya’s political conscience.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka framed the remembrance in collective terms, declaring, “We remember. We appreciate. We honour Baba.”
ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga highlighted the symbolic weight of the date, writing, “7.1.2026: Baba 80+1. Forever in our hearts, Jakom.” Her words reflected how Raila’s identity as “Baba” and “Jakom” remains deeply embedded in the party and among supporters.
Mining Cabinet Secretary and former ODM Deputy Party leader Ali Hassan Joho said leaders and supporters would gather in Mombasa County to “honour and celebrate Baba Rt. Honourable Raila Amolo Odinga @ 80+1.”
He pointed to Raila’s life lessons, saying his journey showed that resilience is not the absence of struggle but the courage to walk through it with purpose.
Joho added that Raila’s vision did not end with him and that his ideals continue to live on in those he mentored, arguing that true leadership is measured not by years but by the generations it awakens.
Other voices situated Raila Odinga firmly within Kenya’s broader political history. A tribute attributed to DCI Meru argued that “you can’t write Kibaki’s legacy and ignore Raila Odinga’s contribution,” linking major reforms and developments to the era of the 2007 coalition government.
The statement described Raila as a liberator and a strong defender of the marginalised communities, concluding with chants of “Jowi! Jowi! Jowi!”
One of the most expansive reflections came from Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, who issued a memorial birthday tribute dated January 7, 2026, marking “81 years since his birth.”
He described the day as one of contemplation rather than celebration, calling Raila Odinga “Kenya’s political colossus,” “Africa’s democratic conscience,” and “one of the most consequential architects of multiparty democracy in the postcolonial world.”
Nyong’o portrayed Raila as a leader who did not merely participate in history but interrupted it, framing his life as an extended argument against injustice” and “a lived example on resistance as a civic duty.
He said Raila believed that democracy without equity is a hollow ritual and that his politics were guided by conviction rather than convenience.
The Kisumu Governor also reflected on Raila’s continental and global standing, calling him “the President history owed but politics denied,” and “the conscience of the Republic.”
He credited Raila with transforming opposition politics through the Orange Democratic Movement, which he said was not merely a party but a school of thought that mentored generations to believe politics could be ethical.
While acknowledging sadness, Nyong’o urged continued commitment to Raila’s ideals, stating that “while the man has departed, the struggle he embodied remains our collective responsibility.” He concluded with a call for Raila’s ideas to continue to disturb injustice.
Together, the tributes painted a portrait of a leader whose influence transcends his lifetime, with supporters insisting that even in death, Raila Odinga’s political and moral legacy continues to shape Kenya’s national conversation.
