Raila Odinga is the best president Kenya never had, this is according to former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary-General Wilson Sossion.
While sending his condolences after the passing of the former Prime Minister, Sossion described Raila as an icon, a statesman, and a political machine that Kenya has lean on.
“It is sad to learn of the sudden passing of an icon, a statesman, and a political machine of this country. He was a pillar of the political development in this country,” Sossion told TV47. “This, indeed, is the most consequential political death in this country after that of Jomo Kenyatta. Kenya may never be the same again without him.”
Sossion says that Raila was so significant in the country that nothing could happen without his “towering spirit and figure”.
The ODM Party leader contested unsuccessfully in five presidential elections (1997, 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022). But losing those elections, Sossion maintains, does not in any way negate his key contributions in Kenya’s political landscape.
“He may have contested many presidential elections, he may not have won many any election, but he has, definitely, in the spirit and the pillar of this country. This is the best president that Kenya never had, but the best leader that the country had in itself. The tremendous democratic development that this country pride itself of, the post-election stability and new government arrangements that seem to work in this country is credited to him. Even after losing some elections, he has been magnanimous enough to allow the country to move on.”
Sossion reminisces his past encounter and dealings with Raila. This is what Sossion, who was nominated to the National Assembly by ODM in 2017, said verbatim…
Those of us who have walked around him, from my experience in labour movement, the teaching fraternity came close to him in 2002. He walked to KNUT Headquaters in the month of October 2002 when we were calling off a strike. He wanted to address the National Executive Council. We did not allow him to the NEC boardroom as per customs and traditions. But he was able to address the National Advisory Council from the entire country. Teachers told him that they want the opposition to be united and present a single presidential council….he was able to declare Kibaki Tosha at Uhuru Park.
Raila died on Wednesday, October 15 morning while undergoing treatment in Kochi City, India.
Indian newspaper Mathrubhumi reports that Raila collapsed during a morning walk within a Ayurvedic hospital.
He was rushed to Devamatha Hospital in Koothattukulam, where he was pronounced dead at around 7:22 Kenyan time, the spokesperson of the Ayurvedic eye hospital confirmed, as reported by the newspaper.
