I don't regret my life, Raila said

It was a sunny Wednesday morning on October 4, 2023, when we left the Standard Group offices on Mombasa Road for an exclusive interview with a man we were all familiar with.

As a politician who had been the face of Opposition politics for almost three decades, his media appearances were many. Still, his one-on-one exclusive interviews with major TV stations and newspapers are countable.

Saying we were lucky to get that interview might seem like an exaggeration because the Opposition leader was the media’s darling, but the reality is that his media appearances had started reducing amid speculation that he might join forces with his then political arch-rival President William Ruto.

As our small convoy of vehicles entered Kerarapon Drive, in Karen, the smell in the air changed and noise from busy traffic was gradually subdued by the cool breeze from surrounding vegetation. It was calm and slightly chilly. We were entering the Nairobi home of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.

Little did we know that this would be one of the last interviews the former PM would give, and indeed, the final interview done by KTN and The Standard.

His handlers said we didn’t have much time with him due to another crucial meeting that was scheduled for him but when our crew finally settled down, he would go on to give us over three hours of airtime for prime time news, speaking five languages in the process.

Baba, as he was fondly called, was very friendly to journalists. He loved the media and knew how to maximise its power.

When KTN interviewed him at his home in 2019, he prepared a banquet for the whole crew. And although he was used to meeting many people, he cared deeply about individuals and interacted with them at a personal level when he could.

I remember our crew being introduced to him by Tony Gachoka, who was the TV host. I was busy taking photos and was recording a video when he realised I had not spoken. He asked me where I came from. When I answered, he gave details of my village that I didn’t think he would know, to my amusement.

When we interviewed him that October, he would easily switch from English to Swahili to pass his message fluently and with clarity.

While chatting with Ken Mijungu, who conducted the English interview, he would throw in some Dholuo off the cuff, then switch back to English.

My highlight, however, was when he graciously allowed me to ask him a few questions as he prepared for the main interview.

I grew up admiring Baba. My family has voted for him in all presidential elections since 2007. To us, he was more than a politician; he was a saviour; the only man who could solve all problems faced by Kenyans.

Meeting him for the first time was a big deal. Taking a photo with him seemed like an achievement itself. This was the third time I was meeting him, and as a journalist, I had been yearning to interview him. And I finally got the chance.

Raila Odinga's Advice to His 25-Year-Old Self

? Via @sinimsafiri ? pic.twitter.com/IVs6Cz1w1a — Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) October 4, 2023

As a young journalist, I was a bit nervous. Perhaps sensing this, Baba stood and asked where I’d prefer to have the interview done. I knew I had about five minutes and scared that I might squander the opportunity, I said we’ll do it standing, where we were, at the guest lounge.

I wanted to know who he was away from all the politics and public attention he was used to getting. He talked about his morning workout routine and affection for his wife Mama Ida.

It’s during that interview that I challenged Baba to speak some German, which he did, for the first time in a media interview.

He lamented the bad state of the Kenyan economy, saying that many families struggled to afford meals on a daily basis. Despite this, he expressed optimism that better times would come. "Keep the hope alive, the darkest hour is before dawn," he said. "I am sure that at the end of the day, the Kenyan spirit shall prevail and things will be better in the future."

When I asked about his most memorable moment, he took me 61 years back, when his teenage self was caught up in a nuclear standoff while aboard a cargo ship on his way to Germany to further his studies.

“I was in the ISIS during the missile crisis of 1962 and we nearly got bombed by a warship. This is something that has remained etched in my mind throughout my life,” he said.

Raila also spoke about his love for classical and reggae music. “I was an addict of Harry Belafonte in his days,” he said. “I also like young Kenyan artists who play today and sometimes sing their songs with my grandchildren.”

Baba also told me about the importance of choosing the right partner, seeing marriage as a journey for a lifetime. He urged caution, dedication, and honesty to young people who are striving to overcome difficulties in life.

“I don’t regret my life. I’ve lived the best way,” Baba said. “I have made mistakes, but as the Latins say Errare humanum est. To err is human. There are challenges in life, but life is not perfect; it’s an experiment.”

Farewell Baba.