President William Ruto has floated the possibility of renaming Kisumu International Airport after the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, in a move he said would honour the veteran politician’s contribution to Kenya and preserve his national legacy.
Dr Ruto said he was consulting the county government of Kisumu and residents of the region on the proposal to rename the airport Raila Odinga International Airport.
“I am in discussion with the county government here and the people of this region with the possibility of renaming Kisumu International Airport also as Raila Odinga International Airport, right here in Kisumu,” he said.
Kisumu International Airport on August 31, 2026.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
The President made the remarks during his Nyanza tour, where he continued to pay tribute to Mr Odinga and pledged to keep alive the ideals he championed throughout his political career.
Dr Ruto said Mr Odinga’s contribution to Kenya could not be replaced, urging leaders to build on his national agenda rather than attempt to fill his place.
“It may not be possible, and it will never be possible, to replace the Honorable Raila Odinga, and nobody should attempt it. But we can only work together to make sure that what he believed in, his legacy, lives on and informs the future of the development of our nation,” he said.
The President portrayed the former Prime Minister as a nationalist and statesman whose political career transcended regional and sectional interests.
“Raila was never a sectionalist. He was never in favour of sectionalism. He lived his career as a nationalist, as a statesman. He built a party that was national. He had an agenda that was national, and he leaves behind a legacy that is national,” Dr Ruto said.
He pledged to personally champion the preservation of Mr Odinga’s political ideals and contribution to the country.
“To honour my brother Raila Odinga, I will make it my responsibility and business to ensure that his legacy, his party and what he believed in lives on as we work together to build a nation called Kenya,” he said.
The proposal comes against the backdrop of the President’s earlier announcement that Talanta Sports City Stadium in Nairobi be renamed Raila Odinga International Stadium.
Dr Ruto said the decision was driven by his respect for the late former Prime Minister, whom he described as a fellow Arsenal supporter. He also said the stadium was nearing completion, with final installations and preparations under way ahead of its official opening.
As the first anniversary of Mr Odinga’s death approaches, the President said the Government was working with his family to organise commemorative activities.
“As we go towards the first anniversary, the family has provided guidance. We have already had a conversation with the family. We, the Government of Kenya, are working with the family towards organising the first anniversary,” he said.
Dr Ruto also said he had directed the construction of a mausoleum in honour of Mr Odinga and improvements to the mausoleum of his father, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
He expects the works to be completed by October 14, allowing the facilities to be handed over to the family ahead of the remembrance activities.
“I already gave instructions on the building of the mausoleum in honour of the late Prime Minister, and to also improve the mausoleum for Jaramogi Oginga Odinga,” he said.
“It is my belief that it should be complete by the 14th of next month so that we can hand it over to the family and to use it for remembrance of the late.”
The President said the Government would also support other activities planned by the family, stressing that the commemorations should reflect Mr Odinga’s stature as a statesman.
“There will be other activities, and the Government of Kenya will support the family in making sure that whatever it is that is being planned befits the statesman that Raila was,” he said.
