Today, January 7, should have been a day of song, dance, and the characteristic political wit of Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. Instead, the nation marks a quiet, reflective milestone the first posthumous birthday of the man millions called ‘Baba.’
Exactly 81 years after he was born in Maseno, the Odinga family has broken their silence with a poignant message that serves as both a tribute and a formal “thank you” to a world that stood still when the veteran opposition leader passed away nearly three months ago.
In a deeply emotional notice published on Facebook by Raila Odinga Junior, the family expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the millions of Kenyans and global sympathizers who supported them following Raila’s passing on October 15, 2025. For a family that has lived in the glare of the public eye for decades, the mourning period was a rare moment of shared national grief that transcended the usual political vitriol.
The family was specific in their appreciation, extending thanks to the government leadership including President William Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi for their outstanding support and kindness.
On the international stage, special mention was reserved for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government for the swift repatriation of Raila’s body from Kerala, where he received full military honors.
Furthermore, the presence of continental icons like former Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, and Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania underscored Raila’s status as a true pan-African statesman.
While the family reflects in private, the public celebration of Raila’s legacy now affectionately dubbed “80+1” has taken a vibrant turn in the Coast region. Mining and Blue Economy CS Hassan Joho is today leading ‘The Coastal Salute’ in Mombasa, a region Raila often referred to as his “political bedroom.”
“His journey teaches us that resilience is not the absence of struggle but the courage to walk through it with purpose,” Joho stated, reminding Kenyans that while the man is gone, the “Agwambo” spirit remains a permanent fixture of our democratic architecture.
From the streets of Kisumu to social media platforms, the hashtag #BabaAt81 has been flooded with tributes. Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka joined the chorus, describing Raila as a towering national figure whose contribution to the 2010 Constitution and the fight for social justice will endure for generations.
Born in 1945 to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Mary Juma, Raila’s life was the storyboard of modern Kenya. From the trenches of the multi-party struggle to the halls of the Prime Minister’s office, he was the “Mysterious One” who could move masses with a single metaphor.
Today, as the family thanks the dedicated medical teams led by Dr. David Oluoch-Olunya, Dr. Martin Wanyoike, and their colleagues who fought to save him, the rest of the nation is left to ponder a political landscape without its most formidable protagonist.
The state funeral and the posthumous awarding of the country’s highest civilian honor were fitting tributes, but as Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga aptly put it: “Forever in our hearts, Jakom.”
