Raila Odinga’s death came as a shock not only to Kenyans but also to his global friends and followers.
Death is no respecter of age, status and gender but while its sting is painful the beauty is that rich legacies outlive this.
Raila leaves behind a rich legacy and will be a subject of history for years to come. His contribution towards pluralism and governance for which he paid a high price in long years of detention cannot be gainsaid.
He made a great contribution to Kenya’s second liberation, a new constitution and Kenya’s devolution structure.
While he was not perfect, Raila’s statesmanship always steered him towards championing - One Kenya, One Nation, One People – when faced with choosing between self-interest and Kenya.
He strongly defended media freedom and without him various regimes would have gladly trampled on the freedom of speech.
Raila’s courage and conviction was unparalleled, but he was equally quick to forgive, embrace enemies and build bridges.
To his ODM party, the greatest honour you can give Raila is unity in diversity and continue to push for the ideals he believed in.
Fare thee well Baba. Jowi.
“Our children may learn about the heroes of the past. Our task
is to make ourselves architects of the future.”
Jomo Kenyatta
Kenya’s founding president was born on October 20, 1894
