President William Ruto, at Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui County during Mashujaa Day celebrations on October 20, 2025.
The name, tributes and contributions of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga dominated speeches across the country as citizens marked Mashujaa Day on Monday, a day after the veteran leader was accorded a State funeral.
President William Ruto dedicated a huge chunk of his speech in praising Mr Odinga as a foremost example of unmatched patriotism and unwavering love for Kenya. The President posthumously conferred upon the late leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the country’s highest civilian honour, the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (C.G.H.), First Class.
President Ruto rallied the country to emulate the ideals the former Prime Minister stood for.
Addressing the nation from Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui County, less than 24 hours after Mr Odinga was laid to rest in Bondo, Siaya County, he said the State recognition placed Mr Odinga's name among Kenya’s foremost national heroes.
President William Ruto, at Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui County during Mashujaa Day celebrations on October 20, 2025.
“As the nation continues to observe the seven days of mourning since the passing of our former Prime Minister, it is both befitting and worthy that we anchor this year’s Mashujaa celebrations in the extraordinary and consequential life of our departed legend, the Rt Hon Raila Odinga,” he said.
A video clip of Mr Odinga's life, including his favourite song "Farewell Jamaica" by Legendary American singer, Harry Belafonte, was played to the audience, as Dr Ruto used the occasion to advocate for a Kenya free of negative ethnicity.
Impactful Kenyans
Mashujaa Day, formerly Kenyatta Day, is a national event that celebrates impactful Kenyans and their contributions to nation-building.
The special guest at the ceremony was the President of Senegal Bassirou Diomaye Faye. The Senegalese leader celebrated Kenyan heroes who fought for the country’s freedom and liberation. He added that he is keen on paying tribute to victims of slavery, colonialism, and past injustices.
Also present were Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Levy of Mozambique, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Governor Julius Malombe of Kitui, among others.
President Ruto, who was accompanied by First Lady Rachel Ruto, described Mr Odinga as a patriot who had always put country above self, declaring that unity, peace, and national welfare must outweigh personal ambition.
The President commended the departed leader, saying he had closed ranks with his competitors for the common good, embraced national unity beyond tribe, and readily reached across the political divide to steady the nation.
He added that Mr Odinga’s unshakeable faith in Kenya’s future reflected his deep and steadfast love for the country.
“He famously declared that he would shake the hands of his rivals whether he won or lost because he loved Kenya more than he loved Raila Amolo Odinga. That was the measure of a great man,” President Ruto said.
He went on: “This is the man, the legend, the pan-Africanist, to whom we dedicate this Mashujaa Day."
In the late Prime Minister’s honour, the President pledged to champion causes that were dear to Mr Odinga: visionary leadership, democracy, national unity, irrigation for sustainable food security, expansion of energy access, and value addition through agro-processing and manufacturing.
He and Mr Odinga, the President explained, were in agreement that leadership is the true driver of national development.
Partisan pursuits
“Not leadership focused on the next election, but leadership that aspires to impact the next generation,” he said.
Pointing out that the country’s progress cannot be achieved through partisan pursuits, President Ruto noted that this could only be achieved through a national inclusive mission.
To achieve food security, the President said Kenya must expand irrigation and modernise agriculture, noting that rain-fed farming can no longer feed Kenya's growing population.
“That is why we have now set an ambitious target to build at least 50 mega dams and bring at least 2 million acres under irrigation," he explained.
The President pointed out that a nation unable to feed itself cannot claim to be sovereign.
Additionally, he emphasised, enhancing value addition, agro-processing, and manufacturing remains central to Kenya’s rapid growth.
“To transform Kenya into a prosperous, job-creating and wealthy nation, we must become a country that makes things, not merely buys or imports them; a country that exports finished goods, not raw materials; a country where industries absorb labour, spur innovation, and expand wealth across every region,” he said.
President William Ruto, at Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui County during Mashujaa Day celebrations on October 20, 2025.
President Ruto said Kenya is driving transformation in manufacturing and industrialisation through Special Economic Zones and County Aggregation and Industrial Parks to create jobs and link farmers, entrepreneurs, and small enterprises to wider markets and value chains.
He, however, noted that Kenya cannot industrialise without reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy.
“That is why we have set our sights on expanding Kenya’s energy generation capacity from the current 2,300 megawatts to at least 10,000 megawatts within the next decade,” he said.
Former Prime Minister the late Raila Odinga.
On infrastructure, the President announced that the government will dual at least 1,000km of major highways, including Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit-Eldoret-Malaba, Makutano-Embu-Meru, Kitengela-Namanga, Mombasa-Nairobi, and Marua-Nanyuki-Isiolo roads.
“We must also build an additional 10,000km of new tarmac roads linking farmers, traders, and manufacturers to markets across the nation, and also extend the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Kisumu and onward to Malaba, seamlessly connecting Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC, the very heart of the African Continental Free Trade Area dream,” he said.
On the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement, the President said,
“We are looking for 100,000 young people to give them Sh50,0000 business support grants to empower their enterprises.”
He said the government will begin giving these funds from 4th November, 2025.
On the development programme in Kitui, the President assured residents that the county and Ukambani region will not be left behind.
President Ruto announced that the government has allocated KSh2.2 billion to connect 16,500 households in Kitui by February 2026.
Prof Kindiki celebrated Kenyan heroes who fought for the country’s sovereignty and defended Kenyans’ dignity, emancipating Africans from colonial domination, expanding Kenya’s political rights and freedoms, and advancing and perfecting Kenya’s democracy.
“What remains now is to strengthen the foundation of our country and perfect the economic well-being of the people of our country,” he said.
Prime Minister Levy said the death of Odinga was a great loss not only to Kenya, but also to Africa.
“With his passing, Kenya and indeed all African nations have lost a true nationalist whose voice will continue to resonate in the struggle for a more just and democratic society,” she said.
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