Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka/XWiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has paid glowing tribute to the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, dedicating this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations to him and describing him as the embodiment of Kenya’s enduring spirit of resilience and sacrifice.
In a heartfelt message released on Monday morning, Kalonzo said Raila’s courage, determination, and sacrifices had elevated him to the ranks of Kenya’s greatest heroes.
“Today I join many Kenyans in dedicating this Mashujaa Day to my brother and dear friend who has taken his final bow, our second Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Your sacrifices, Baba, will not be forgotten. You are and will always remain my hero, Kenya’s Shujaa,” Kalonzo wrote, capturing the mood of a nation still reeling from the loss of a towering political figure.
The tribute came as hundreds of Kenyans gathered at Ithooke Stadium in Kitui County for the national Mashujaa Day celebrations.
Traditionally observed on October 20, the holiday honors the freedom fighters who fought for independence and other men and women who have played a role in shaping the country.
This year, however, the atmosphere was colored by grief and remembrance as Raila’s name and legacy dominated public reflection.
Kalonzo described Raila as a man who defied adversity at every turn.
“Years of detention did not stop you. The torture chambers did not faze you. The agony of bungled and stolen elections did not crush you,” he said.
According to Kalonzo, Raila embodied true heroism not only in words but also through action, consistently standing up for justice and democracy regardless of personal cost.
The two leaders shared a political journey that spanned decades, often standing shoulder to shoulder in the push for reforms.
From the struggle for multiparty democracy in the 1990s to the fight for the 2010 Constitution and subsequent campaigns for good governance, Kalonzo and Raila were allies in shaping Kenya’s political trajectory.
Kalonzo emphasised that Raila’s enduring vision was for a Kenya where justice and equality were not privileges but rights for all citizens.
“Throughout your life, you dedicated yourself—mind, body, and soul—to the pursuit of a fair and just Kenya, where all, irrespective of their titles and ethnicity, would be accorded dignity and treated equally,” Kalonzo said in his message.
Raila Odinga, who died at the age of 80, was a central figure in Kenya’s democratic journey.
His political life was defined by resilience, from long detentions without trial under the Moi regime to five presidential campaigns marked by controversy and setbacks.
Though he never attained the presidency, his influence on governance, constitutional reform, and civic freedoms remains unmatched.
Kalonzo’s tribute echoed the sentiments of many Kenyans who see Raila not only as a politician but as a symbol of defiance, hope, and national unity.
At Ithooke Stadium, the patriotic songs, colorful attire, and waving flags all carried an undertone of remembrance for the man widely regarded as the people’s hero.
