Raila Odinga: The Indefatigable Spirit Who Always Put Kenya First- Hon Mohammed Adow's Tribute to Rt Hon Odinga

Raila Odinga: The indefatigable spirit who always put Kenya first. 

By Hon. Mohammed Adow

Kenya is a nation in mourning. We have lost one of our greatest sons - Raila Amollo Odinga, a statesman whose name will forever be etched in the story of our democracy.

To speak of Kenyan politics without mentioning Raila is to tell an incomplete story. His life was the heartbeat of our nation’s political journey - one defined by courage, conviction, and an unyielding faith in the promise of a better Kenya.

Raila Odinga was not just a politician. He was a cause, a movement, and a compass that guided our nation through some of its most turbulent times. Few leaders have shown such consistency in their defence of democracy and the rights of ordinary citizens. Whether in Parliament, on the campaign trail, or in the streets alongside the people, Raila never shied away from speaking truth to power.

Even during the dark days of the Moi regime - when questioning authority could cost one’s freedom or life - Raila stood firm. For his beliefs, he paid a heavy price: many years of detention without trial, endless harassment, and political persecution. Yet he did not waver. Those years behind bars did not break his spirit; they honed it. He emerged stronger, more determined, and more committed to building a Kenya anchored on justice, equity, and freedom.

Raila made immense sacrifices for this country. He risked life and limb because he believed a better Kenya was indeed possible - a Kenya where the rule of law reigned supreme, where power served the people rather than subdued them, and where every citizen, regardless of background, could dream freely.

As someone who covered Raila Odinga for years - first with the BBC and later with Al Jazeera - I had the privilege of witnessing his resilience up close. I interviewed him during some of Kenya’s most tense and uncertain moments, particularly in the wake of disputed elections that threatened to tear the country apart. In those moments of national anxiety, Raila’s composure and sense of patriotism always struck me.

He would look me in the eye and remind me - and by extension, the nation - that Kenya was bigger than any individual or entity. That phrase, repeated with conviction time and again, captured the essence of who Raila Odinga truly was: a man who placed the nation above self, even when wronged, even when the stakes were deeply personal.

I recall a conversation during his recent quest to lead the African Union Commission. I told him candidly that he was ill-suited for the role - that his sworn and gung-ho Pan-Africanism might not appeal to those who “pay the bills” at the AU. He smiled and said, “That ought to change too.” That moment reaffirmed what I had always known about Raila: once he set his mind on something, he pursued it with conviction and courage. His resolve was unshakable, and his belief in Africa’s potential, absolute.

Raila’s stubbornness, often misunderstood by his detractors, was born of principle, not pride. It was the stubbornness of a man who refused to settle for half-measures in matters of justice, democracy, and national unity. His political life was a testament to perseverance - to the belief that Kenya could rise above the divisions of tribe, greed, and fear.

Sadly, as is often the case with great men, we rarely appreciate our leaders in their lifetimes. Only when they depart from this world do we begin to grasp the magnitude of their sacrifice and the depth of their patriotism. 

Raila’s passing has reminded us of the void that true leadership leaves behind - a void not easily filled.

Today, as we mourn his death, we also celebrate the ideals he lived for. Raila taught us that patriotism is not about convenience; it is about conviction. He showed us that leadership is not about position; it is about purpose. And above all, he reminded us that Kenya’s destiny is collective - that no single person, however mighty, can stand above the will of the people.

Fare thee well, Baba - the people’s leader and the flame of Kenya’s democracy.

Your memory will forever light the path toward the just, free, and united nation you dreamed of.