Ben Agina: 'Jakom shared with me exclusive stories and sensitive information'

October 6, 3.28 pm remains a moment etched in time. It was the last time I heard his voice. The call was fleeting, barely 20 seconds, yet it carried the weight of years, of friendship, of trust, of unspoken gratitude.

I had called ODM leader Raila Odinga to tell him I’d not seen him for a while. And in that warm, familiar Dholuo tone he said, “Jamasawa a nam chumbi awinj maber, kaduogo Nairobi manya.” (Son of Gem, I’m at the Coast. I’m unwell, but when I come back to Nairobi please look for me).

Those were his last words to me; simple, gentle, and full of promise. That was Raila — a man of grace, of boundless hope, whose presence lingered long after that call ended. 

I first came to know Baba in 1996, during his initial bid for the presidency.
From the very first assignment, I saw in him a leader who was curious yet calm, bold yet deeply humane , a man whose charisma could light up a room, yet whose humility disarmed even his fiercest critics.

 At that time, I covered his political activities alongside the prolific journalist the late Ochieng Sino.

Following Sino’s passing, the transition to me taking over the beat was seamless, as Raila had already built a sense of trust in me.

Throughout my coverage, Raila struck me as a kind, engaging, and remarkably grounded leader. 
As my relationship with Raila deepened, I gradually became his de facto official reporter in a local daily. He often shared with me headline stories and exclusive insights, trusting my judgment and professionalism. Through this close association, I earned credibility among his family and key supporters establishing myself as a reliable journalist in political reporting.

My profile in political journalism grew significantly, shaped by the trust and access that came with working closely with him.

Baba trusted me deeply so much that there were moments he would share with me sensitive information meant for highly placed people in Government and I was privileged to be among the few who he relied on to deliver those kind of messages. 

That level of confidence remains one of the greatest honours of my career. Those messages and moments will stay with me to the grave.

As his point man on electoral matters in the run up to the 2022 General Elections, Raila entrusted me with critical assignments that demanded both discretion and diligence.

In one such instance, he tasked me to gather intelligence on electoral matters and report directly to him. I vividly recall an instance when an MP from Siaya brought him sensitive information concerning the electoral body.

His first question to the MP was whether he had already shared the information with me. That moment spoke volumes about the depth of trust Raila had in me a trust built over time, through loyalty, honesty, and shared purpose.

I can’t forget the days when Raila would find me at his eldest daughter — Rosemary — house in Lavington. He would join us with his usual warmth, exchanging pleasantries, sharing stories, and laughing with that unmistakable charm. When it was time for him to leave, he would gently remind us that duty called, saying with a smile that he had to attend to “other national matters.” 

Those simple moments reflected the ease, humility, and humanity that defined him beyond politics.

When Raila heard that I was getting married to the daughter of his childhood friend, the late Apollo Ndeda of Makasembo in Kisumu, he was genuinely delighted. With his characteristic sense of kinship, he told me that as a father figure, he had an obligation to donate a cow for my marriage. And true to his word, he did but monetary wise. 
It’s a déjà vu moment for me as Jakom, as he was also knowing, will be laid to rest on the very same day I buried my mother.

Life has a way of circling back in moments we least expect, moments heavy with memory and meaning. 

As I bid farewell to a mentor, a leader, and a father figure, I do so with profound gratitude for the journey we shared. 

Go well Jakom, your wisdom, warmth, and enduring spirit will forever live in our hearts.

Rest well, Baba.

The son of Gem salutes you.