I was away in Brazil when Raila Odinga died and only returned late in the evening on the day of his burial, which I therefore missed. When news of Raila’s death came through, other Africans at the conference I was attending reached out to the Kenyans present to pass their commiserations.
What was most heartening was the acknowledgement that Raila was not just a Kenyan leader — he was a leader of the whole African continent.
Together with my family, I travelled to Bondo last weekend, where I paid my last respects at the grave of this great man, while also condoling with his family. I also paid my respects at the grave of Jaramogi Odinga, Raila’s father. In the wake of Raila’s death — and now that he is united with his father in the hereafter — there is renewed interest in the lives of both men, including questions about what the collective legacy of the Odinga family might look like.
There are also unanswered questions about the many futures that Raila was connected to. One is the future of his family. Another is the future of the party he founded, ODM. And the third is the future of Kenya — a country whose political heartbeat Raila influenced for more than two decades.
The first issue to address is what needs to be done to secure the legacies of both Jaramogi and Raila. Jaramogi already has a mausoleum in Bondo, which contains a modest display of memorabilia. However, the exhibition could certainly be upgraded and expanded. It is too early to ask whether, in time, a similar mausoleum will be erected for Raila in Bondo — although I suspect that the answer is yes.
Based on the overwhelming outpouring of emotion following Raila’s passing, the country is not about to forget him. I predict that, in the coming years, his gravesite will attract many people who loved him and wished for his success. Eventually, Kang’o ka Jaramogi could become a tourist attraction for those seeking a spiritual connection with Raila — and with his father, Jaramogi. It would be worthwhile if such visits also offered an opportunity for visitors to learn about their lives.
I once visited the Pink House (Casa Rosada in Spanish) in Buenos Aires — the official workplace of the President of Argentina. It contains a museum with collections of items related to former presidents and is regarded as one of the most emblematic buildings in the city. Kang’o ka Jaramogi could borrow from this model and establish a museum in Bondo dedicated to Raila. Official institutions — including cultural agencies and the Siaya County government — could partner with the family to make this possible.
In addition, Raila’s life deserves a photo gallery in Nairobi. The Kenya National Archives — which already contains galleries of some of the most important figures in Kenya — is unfortunately full. A public university in the city could partner with a relevant government institution to establish a Raila gallery on its premises. Just as the Kibaki gallery was occasionally displayed outdoors, the Raila gallery could also be displayed in the streets on anniversaries of his death.
Turning to the Odinga family itself: I am convinced it is in a good place — based on the example of what happened after Jaramogi died. Raila was just starting his political career when Jaramogi — already elderly and near the end of his life — became leader of the opposition. Raila was one of the many young leaders around Jaramogi, each hoping eventually to replace the old man. Far from endorsing his son, Jaramogi did not appear to take Raila’s political career seriously, and seemed more interested in Raila’s rivals. Raila’s political career only took off after Jaramogi died — and did so despite his father’s apparent doubts about his suitability as a leader.
Winnie Odinga is the only one of Raila’s children who is active in politics. Just as Jaramogi overshadowed Raila in his early life, some may argue that Winnie has lived under the enormous shadow of her father. Of course, politics is not the only path — and Raila’s children are free to pursue other careers. However, if the path chosen is politics, then the example of the Raila–Jaramogi relationship remains a useful precedent. I noted that Raila Junior was recently enstooled. This must be preparation for leadership — whether within the family or within the political space. Time will tell.
As for ODM, what is happening now is very interesting. Various factions are invoking Raila’s wishes to justify competing and irreconcilable claims regarding the party’s future. The simplest way to resolve these differences is, firstly, to hold party elections, and secondly, to listen to what the members of the party want for the party — and for the country.
Another important concern is how Raila’s memory will play out in the politics of other key figures: William Ruto, Uhuru Kenyatta, Rigathi Gachagua, Fred Matiang’i and Kalonzo Musyoka. Except for Gachagua, all the others have strived to be on the right side of Raila’s death — offering solidarity to his family. How they choose to engage with Raila’s memory in the next election will depend, firstly, on whether or not ODM remains intact — and on what choices the party makes if it remains united.
The final question is: why was Raila mourned so emotionally? Kenya has lost former presidents and other important leaders — none of whom elicited such an emotional public reaction. There are two main reasons, I think. The first is the nature of Raila’s leadership. Raila led with courage and conviction — and came to be seen as a political protector of his base. In this role, he was the source of psychological security to his supporters. His death was therefore experienced as a removal of that security.
The second reason is that Kenyans mourned Raila as the president they never had. In this regard, his story mirrors that of his father — a leader who was unjustly prevented from occupying the highest office in the land. The public came out to say that although Raila did not achieve everything they wanted, and although he was not perfect as a human being, he was still worthy of their highest regard in death.
