A year after the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga , a new contest is emerging over his political and public legacy, with his family and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) running parallel programmes to commemorate the man who founded and led the party for more than two decades.
The differences have become most visible in activities marking the first anniversary of Raila’s death on October 15. The family has insisted on a family-led programme, while ODM has mounted its own month-long “Mwezi wa Baba” celebrations.
The parallel programmes have raised questions over who should speak for Raila’s legacy and whether his memory should remain principally associated with ODM or be presented as a broader national heritage beyond party politics.
The tension came into sharper focus on Friday when Raila’s family members kept off ODM’s candle-lighting ceremony at Uhuru Park in Nairobi, with only Raila Odinga Junior attending the event in Mombasa.
Raila Junior appeared to draw a line between the family and political formations seeking to appropriate his father’s legacy.
He thanked Coast residents for standing with his father and said the family had been unable to visit the region during the three-day mourning period after his death.
“Today is the day to remember Baba Raila Amolo Odinga, and as Raila Junior, I wish to reaffirm one point, the Party where Baba left us is ODM.”
“I know there are some people running around - here and there – but I wish to tell our youth that not all that glitters is gold.”
The comments came as a section of Raila’s former allies, led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, pursue efforts to create a new opposition vehicle ahead of the 2027 elections.
ODM is part of the broad-based government with President William Ruto, a political arrangement Raila supported before his death. The party has continued to defend that legacy, while some of Raila’s former allies have been associated with the Sifuna group.
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.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
The differences became particularly clear after Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga criticised ODM’s anniversary preparations, suggesting some party officials were more interested in exploiting the occasion than honouring Raila.
“We are heading for 15th October, and already vultures of ODM cups and tents are now planning...Raila was an enigma!! wacheni upuzi!!! (stop this nonsense),” she said on social media.
Her remarks were interpreted as criticism of unnamed party officials whom she appeared to accuse of seeking to benefit from organising the celebrations.
ODM announced its “Mwezi wa Baba” programme on September 10, beginning with a nationwide candle-lighting ceremony on October 2 and culminating in regional activities later in the month. The party says the programme is intended to celebrate Raila’s political legacy and contribution to Kenya’s democratic struggle.
On Friday, thousands of supporters participated in ODM-organised candle-lighting ceremonies across the country, including Uhuru Park in Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa.
The family has established a separate Raila Amolo Odinga Memorial National Steering Committee, chaired by Prof Adams Oloo and deputised by Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo.
Prof Oloo has sought to distinguish its programme from party activities, insisting that the family-led events will formally commemorate Raila.
Speaking during an inspection of the mausoleum in Bondo, Prof Oloo said Mama Ida Odinga would lead the family’s candle-lighting ceremony on October 14.
“Mama Ida Odinga is the one who will lead the candle-lighting ceremony for Raila on October 14, 6pm.”
The committee was unveiled by Mama Ida on September 17 and tasked with coordinating the family-led national commemorations.
On Thursday, it announced that Mama Ida would lead an international candle-lighting ceremony at Raila’s resting place at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo on October 14, a day before the anniversary.
The committee has chosen Migwena Cultural and Sports Ground as the venue for the October 15 public commemoration.
A supporter holds a portrait of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga alongside a lit candle during a memorial ceremony in his honour at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, on October 2, 2026.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
Dr Amollo said the formal unveiling of the mausoleum on October 7 would be an invitation-only State ceremony because of limited space and the military nature of the event.
President Ruto’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Josephat Nanok, who is part of the State team overseeing preparations, said the ceremony would follow traditions used for former heads of state and government.
He said it would be conducted with military honours in recognition of Raila’s position as Kenya’s former Prime Minister.
“This state ceremony will be a military honour ceremony, and it’s been curated in line with various ceremonies of its kind that have been provided to former heads of state and government.”
Dr Amollo said the ceremony would be televised live, with public viewing areas provided in Bondo because the mausoleum grounds could not accommodate a large crowd.
He said the government would provide security and other assistance for the October 15 public commemoration and related activities across the country during the celebrations.
The public will be allowed to visit the mausoleum from October 8, while screens will be installed at selected venues for Kenyans to follow the October 7 ceremony remotely.
The emerging separation has exposed the delicate relationship between the family and the party that Raila built into one of Kenya’s most formidable political movements.
People familiar with the arrangements said sections of the family were concerned that the anniversary could become too closely associated with ODM and, by extension, the broad-based government.
According to the sources, the concern was that the memorial should remain a celebration of Raila rather than become an occasion for political mobilisation by one side of the opposition-versus-government contest.
The apparent exclusion of some local political figures, such as Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda, has also generated questions, although he played down suggestions of a rift.
Mr Ochanda said he had been away in Nairobi when the committee held its Friday briefing and had not been alerted, but insisted he remained involved in local affairs.
“I was away in Nairobi during the Friday briefing by the committee at home, but I was not alerted. However, locally, I’m involved in the affairs.”
Some family members have also been associated with political actors opposed to the broad-based government.
Winnie Odinga, for instance, has been linked to the Linda Mwananchi political formation associated with Mr Sifuna and other opposition figures. Sources indicated she was considering a bid for the Nairobi Senate seat, although she declined to comment when contacted on Saturday.
If she enters the race, she could face Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, who has declared interest in contesting the seat on an ODM ticket.
Raila Junior, who is eyeing the Kibra MP seat, appears to have taken a different path. His appearance in Mombasa alongside leaders associated with the broad-based government and his statement that ODM is the party Raila left behind provided a public indication of his position.
His comments came as Raila’s elder brother, Dr Oburu Oginga, remains the substantive leader of ODM after taking over following Raila’s death.
Dr Oginga has largely remained out of the public spotlight while recovering from a medical trip to the United Kingdom, but his camp remains associated with the continuation of Raila’s political arrangements.
The family has sought to keep the anniversary programme above party politics. Prof Oloo has described the celebrations as family-led and warned against fundraising in its name.
The committee has also stressed that the commemorations are intended to give all Kenyans an opportunity to remember Raila, rather than be an exclusively partisan affair.
The State is also playing a significant role. The mausoleum is being constructed at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, where Raila is buried next to his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. President Ruto is expected to preside over the restricted dedication ceremony on October 7.
ODM, meanwhile, has no intention of withdrawing from the anniversary. Its programme includes a rally in Kakamega on October 9, regional activities in Garissa, the Coast, Kajiado and Turkana, and a final Nairobi event on October 31.
