This Christmas is not the same as previous celebrations, especially to the residents of Kisumu. The nation mourns the absence of the late Raila Amolo Odinga, the father of its democratic spirit and a towering presence in the hearts of millions.
For the first time, families, communities and leaders will celebrate the festive season without his guiding presence, a silence that reverberates from Kisumu to Nairobi and beyond.
Yet, even in absence, Baba’s spirit continues to inspire action and compassion, most notably reflected this week in Kisumu, where Deputy Governor Dr. Mathews Owili has taken the lead in channeling remembrance into service.
At Vosh Church in Kisumu Central, hundreds of residents gathered to receive Christmas gifts and essential supplies through an outreach initiative quietly organized by Dr. Owili.
“Though Baba is no longer with us physically, his heart and values remain alive in the way we treat one another, in the way we give and in the way we continue to build a Kenya that works for all,” Dr. Owili told the gathering.
The initiative mirrors Raila Odinga’s own approach to leadership, a philosophy of service without spectacle, compassion without fanfare and generosity without self-promotion.
There were no cameras or political banners, only an emphasis on care, community and shared humanity.
The Vosh Church outreach follows a countywide free medical camp led by Dr. Owili just days earlier, which brought essential health services to thousands of residents across Kisumu’s sub-counties.
From maternal care for expectant mothers to health screenings for the elderly, the camp underscored a philosophy of leadership rooted in empathy and tangible action.
Dr. Owili’s outreach, though understated in publicity, has become a symbol of continuity between Raila Odinga’s legacy and Kisumu’s present leadership.
In conversations with residents, volunteers and local leaders, the message was clear: true leadership is measured not in rhetoric but in deeds that uplift the vulnerable and strengthen the social fabric.
“Let us walk into the coming year with renewed faith and purpose,” Dr. Owili said. “Let us build on the foundation Baba laid and a Kisumu that rises with dignity, innovation and hope for every household.”
