Today, with a heavy heart, I join all Kenyans in saying goodbye to Raila Amolo Odinga — Baba — a name whispered with reverence, love, and hope.
As a teacher, I see in his life more than politics. I see a lesson plan — one that teaches perseverance, resilience, and how to lose an election gracefully and still form the government with a smile. When I first heard that Baba — the people’s president, the enigma of Kenyan politics, the only man who could lose on Sunday and be part of government by Friday — had rested, I dropped everything. That morning, I was planning to travel to Nairobi to the TSC offices to respond to a Show Cause Letter sent to me by some rogue officer. I had even prepared a speech to tell them to “shut up.” But when I heard Baba was gone, I cancelled everything.
For those of us who teach history, Raila has not just been a topic, not a lesson — he’s been the whole syllabus. He taught perseverance better than any textbook. Detained, betrayed, rigged, detained again — and yet, he still woke up smiling, ready to promise a new Kenya.
Former ODM leader the late Raila Odinga.
Photo credit: Photo I Pool
If life were an exam, Raila never failed — he just got remarked. He was the kind of student who would repeat KCPE as many times as it took until he passed. I am sure that had he not passed on, he would still have retaken the Presidential KCPE in 2027 — and somehow still emerged the winner, regardless of who IEBC announced.
Many will write about his politics, but allow me, as a teacher, to celebrate his contribution to education.
We know Raila for expanding the democratic space in Kenya — but few know he also expanded democracy in staffrooms. Believe me, before Raila, most schools were run like mini-dictatorships. Headmasters ruled with iron fists, and any teacher who dared question them would be posted to a school so remote even Safaricom network refused to reach.
But after Baba, democracy reached staffrooms. Teachers began to speak freely. I personally run Mwisho wa Lami Secondary with democracy — and anyone who doubts can ask Saphire (though he should not overuse that democracy again).
Raila loved teachers. Long before I joined the profession, during the days of Ambrose Adongo and Francis Ng’ang’a, when KNUT strikes were national holidays, Baba was with us. He joined the teachers in their struggle, giving them confidence that if police came, he knew the shortcuts to safety. Now, I am not saying we are well paid — but thanks to him, at least the peanuts we earn today are bigger peanuts than what we earned before.
Let us also remember that Baba was the father of devolution. As a Head of Institution (HOI), I can testify that devolution changed lives — both professionally and… personally.
For example, early this year, the county government of Kakamega funded a project in Mwisho wa Lami Secondary. I oversaw the procurement and delivery of materials. I would be lying if I said I came out empty-handed. In fact, I have something to show for it — a toilet built in my compound, courtesy of devolution. Every time I visit it, I remember Baba.
And who can forget his gift to us teachers — free holidays! Every time there were maandamanos, schools would close, giving us time to rest, reflect, and finish our side hustles. Especially after the 2017 elections, we had to accommodate Maandamano days in our school planning. I doubt we shall ever see such productive demonstrations again. Without Baba, maandamano will never be the same.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Photo credit: Yayuyoshi Chiba | AFP
That’s why, when I heard the news of his passing, even before the government said anything, I ordered Mwisho wa Lami Secondary to close for two days in honour of a man who walked across Kenya’s political landscape like a colossus.
Indeed, Baba loved KNUT. He supported teachers’ strikes, and teachers loved him back. That’s why, in 2017, ODM nominated KNUT’s Secretary-General, Wilson Sossion, to Parliament. Yes, it cost both Sossion and KNUT dearly, but teachers will never forget.
We only disagreed with Baba on one thing — devolving education. He has always pushed for education to be fully devolved, for the central government to hand over education resources and responsibilities to county governments. As a teacher, I’m still not sure whether education is a devolved function or not – we were not taught that at Kilimambogo. All I know is, if governors were to pay us, we would be sleeping hungry by mid-month. Just look at what is happening to doctors and nurses to the doctors.
First, by living his ideals — democracy, resilience, and forgiveness. If Raila could forgive Moi, Kibaki, Uhuru, and even Ruto; transforming from a fierce competitor to a bosom friend, there is no one I cannot forgive.
Therefore, in the spirit of Baba, today I publicly forgive Saphire, Kuya, Lena – her bad hair in tow— and even those rogue TSC officers who sent me the Show Cause letter, and all those who have been frustrating me. Like Raila, I am ready to work with all my former enemies to take Mwisho wa Lami Great Again.
From Kibera to Kisumu, from the ballot box to the Bible verse, Baba walked the talk — even when the talk was uphill. So yes, I mourn him deeply. But I also celebrate him. Because legends don’t die — they simply go for consultations with God, to check if Heaven is running properly. And if Heaven has a ballot, we already know who’s winning with a landslide — regardless of who Chebukati and Kivuitu will jointly announce as the winner.
Rest well, Baba Raila Amolo Odinga. Rest well Baba.
