Raila Odinga Junior, son of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has
shared a deeply emotional tribute to his father, moving millions of Kenyans
mourning the veteran opposition leader.
As the country enters its third day of national
mourning, the heartfelt video posted on Raila Junior’s social media timeline
offers an intimate glimpse into the life of the man many fondly called Agwambo.
The montage, set to soft instrumental music, traces
Raila’s remarkable journey, from his early years as a freedom fighter and
political prisoner to his decades-long struggle for democracy and equality. It
also reveals his tender side as a father and grandfather.
The video opens with one of Raila’s memorable
quotes:
“Remember the words of the dead; they are
powerful. What they left behind, do not discard.”
Archival footage follows, Raila’s release from
detention in the 1980s, his fiery campaign rallies across the country, and
jubilant crowds chanting his name.
These are interspersed with rare
family moments, his wedding photos, playful scenes with grandchildren, and
quiet evenings with his wife, Ida Odinga.
“Thank you, Baba,” Raila Junior captioned the
video, which has already garnered thousands of shares and emotional comments.
One particularly touching moment shows Raila
reading to his grandchild, a gentle reminder of the warmth behind his fierce
political persona.
“This is the Raila we knew and loved, not just
the politician, but the father of a nation,” wrote one user.
Others thanked Raila Junior for humanizing a figure who, for decades,
embodied Kenya’s political resilience.
As the nation prepares for a state funeral,
Raila’s body lies at Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi, where it was received with
full military honors after arriving from India.
Memorial services are planned in Nairobi, Kisumu, and his Bondo home in
Siaya County.
For many, Raila Junior’s tribute is more than
a farewell, it’s a reflection of his father’s enduring spirit and the values he
championed.
“In his struggles, we saw courage; in his
voice, we found hope,” another mourner wrote.
Raila Odinga died on October 15, 2025, at the
age of 80, after suffering a cardiac arrest during a morning walk at an
Ayurvedic hospital in Kerala, India.
His passing shocked the nation, coming just days after his family had
assured Kenyans he was recovering well.
President William Ruto declared a seven-day
mourning period and a public holiday on Friday, October 17, to honor Raila’s
legacy in democracy, devolution, and civil rights.
In Raila Junior’s own words:
“His story doesn’t end
here, it lives on in every Kenyan who dares to dream.”
