Kenyans in the United States hold online candlelight vigil for Raila
Members of the public light candles in memory of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga outside Silverline Hotel in Eldoret City, Uasin Gishu County, on October 2, 2026.
The Kenyans in the United States came together online to celebrate the life and legacy of Raila Odinga, marking the first anniversary of his death with a candlelight vigil filled with prayer, music and personal tributes.
Participants remembered the former Prime Minister and longtime political figure as a champion of democracy whose influence extended beyond Kenya and inspired Africans around the world.
Held on October 15, 2026, the two-hour tribute began at 10pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), or 5am EAT. Moderated by Dr Joseph Odhiambo, the vigil opened with remarks from Emily Ogandi, who placed the occasion in context. Emily—affectionately known in the diaspora as “Mtoto wa Baba”, urged participants to “stand up and be counted. Do not let Baba’s legacy die. Our time to stand up and be counted is now.”
After the Kenyan national anthem was played, the vigil moved swiftly into a prayer session led by Colorado-based pastor Dr Barrack Okal. Barrack tearfully recounted how, as a university student supporting Raila during President Moi’s repressive dictatorship, he and several other University of Nairobi students were detained. They were taken against their will to the infamous Nyayo House torture chambers in the heart of Nairobi’s CBD.
“We were picked up from the University of Nairobi during the 1990s push for multiparty democracy and detained incommunicado in Nyayo House with other Young Turks, including luminaries such as lawyer Gitobu Imanyara and Professor Ouma Muga.
To me, Baba was a mentor and political ally, a true fighter for democracy.” He went on to quote Proverbs 10:7: “The memory of the just is blessed.” He expressed his pleasure that, throughout his travels across Africa—including Tanzania, Benin, Togo and Nigeria; Africans praised Kenya as an icon of democracy, a democracy that Raila fought long and hard to bring to fruition.
On a personal level, Raila’s vision for freedom and justice is epitomised, a year after his death, by the naming of two of his children, Fidel and Winnie, after prominent global voices for democracy and freedom: Fidel Castro and Winnie Mandela. This legacy was encapsulated during the candlelight vigil in a brief musical interlude featuring Rapar Raila by Coster Ojwang and Shujaa Raila by Godricks Kitui Wanyonyi. This was followed by the online group’s rendition of Raila’s favourite song, Jamaica Farewell, by Trinidadian King of Calypso Harry Belafonte. In her tribute to Raila, Kenyan diasporan Nancy Youree said: “Your voice may be silent, but your courage in fighting for what was right continues.”
The evening concluded with tributes from Danson Mukile, who shared fond memories of speaking with Raila and receiving his valuable advice during the campaign to expand diaspora voting. He emphasised the need for diasporans to engage in diaspora affairs, much as Raila tackled the imperfections of the state head-on.
Other Kenyans in diaspora who paid tribute to the departed Kenyan icon included Linda Stewart, also known as the “Queen of Sakwa Bondo”. Dr Chris Okere of Denver, Colorado, tearfully recalled how Baba had bailed him out of jail after he was imprisoned for his pro-democracy activism.
Dr David Angwenyi of Princeton, New Jersey, gave the closing vote of thanks to the participants. He reminded the diaspora of the ongoing effort to form a Diaspora Leadership Council that would provide a focused, organised and co-ordinated focal point for advancing the diaspora agenda in the US and Kenya. Remembering Raila, Dr Angwenyi said: “We remember, we reflect and we carry his name forward. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
A year later, Raila’s legacy continues to shine despite uncertainty over who will fill the enormous leadership vacuum created by his untimely death. Kenya still faces immense challenges in integration, good governance, democracy and advancing the rule of law.
Raila’s lifelong dedication to democracy in Kenya and African unity abroad stands as a shining legacy of his indefatigable determination to leave Kenya and Africa in a better place than he found them many decades ago.
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