Goodbye Baba: Curtain finally comes down on a national hero

He bowed out as a shujaa. A celebrated hero who touched hearts, lives and whose contribution to many spheres of the country will be felt for years.

A legend who nurtured leaders, planted a seed of inspiration to younger generations, and endured physical pain, personal losses and detention in his push for reforms.

If the country had a Hall of Fame for some of its most polished men and women, the name of the son of Kenya’s first Vice President and Kenya’s father of opposition politics, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Raila Odinga, would be among the names on top of the list.

As the sun set at Kango Ka Jaramogi, and the tall trees in the homestead slowly cast their dark shadows upon the grave of the ODM leader, a chapter in the country’s political history was closed. His contribution to the country’s progress is expected to endure, and the seed he planted in the hearts and minds of generations will continue to inspire for years.

For the better part of his 80 years on earth, he was the blessing that kept giving hope, endurance, push for transformation, and democratic ideals. A man who was unafraid to put his own life on the line in his push for reforms.

Many believe his contribution will not go unfeted. While alive, a few roads and a stadium in Homa Bay were named after him. In his death, he is expected to collect more accolades for his contribution to a better Kenya, a Pan-Africanist, an advocate of devolution, and a champion for democracy.

A man who championed multiparty democracy and used his golden political wand to rally his supporters to help pass the Constitution 2010, opened up space for devolution, and mentored a multitude of politicians.

Five times he tried to change the country’s script by contesting for the presidency. Five times he failed to get the seat even after convincing friends and foes to back his political train. But still, he did not give up.

And in his sunset months, he was the voice of reason that sought to restore the dream he had for a better Kenya. A united Kenya, a stronger economy grounded on an effective devolution system, and democracy.

On Sunday, as curtains came down on his physical existence in the world, many hoped it had not closed the window of opportunity in the push for national unity. 

For a man who made many adversaries in his long political career, Raila died at peace. He had built bridges and mended fences.

Even on his last day on earth, Raila was still implementing reforms in Luo Nyanza’s social constructs. A voice of reason at a time of turmoil. 

His funeral alone will be stuck in the memories of Kenyans for a while. In Luo Nyanza, the funeral stood in a huge contrast to other funerals of prominent people in the region. Unlike other funerals that are incomplete without a massive feast, Raila’s was different. There was no feast.

But this was understandable. In his last years on earth, Raila had been pushing for a societal change in Nyanza and had morphed into a huge campaigner against lavish funerals. He believed it was the time the region started spending moderately on burials.

His main concern was mourners spending huge amounts of money on the burial activities but leaving the bereaved families struggling to even pay school fees for the deceased’s children.

In the region, funerals attract opulence, millions in fundraising drives, and several days of mourning. Raila’s was different. Within three days, he was lowered into his final resting place. There were no harambees, which are synonymous with funerals in Nyanza and other regions. No long lines of catering services and no fanfare apart from the elaborate military honours he was accorded in the State burial.

After three days of mourning, reality finally dawned on a majority of Kenyans that the man they looked up to and supported with grit was no more. A national hero whose contribution will forever remain etched in the annals of the country’s history.

Yet, despite his humble send-off, Raila is leaving at a time the country is faced with an intergenerational crossroads that has hit every spine of the country’s political architecture. In his own ODM, the future is uncertain as the troops he had nurtured began blowing war horns even before he was laid to rest. His party members are torn between backing President William Ruto and opting out, a position that played out openly as some members made claims of a plot to divide the party.

For President Ruto, Raila has been the anchor that helped him calm his rocky ship, as Gen-Z shook his administration last year.

At his death, Raila had entered into a working arrangement with the President to help tackle some of the problems the country was facing. The move earned him praise from Ruto, who had been flattering him with heartwarming words even before he died. 

On Sunday, his role of a peacemaker played out during his burial, which brought together several leaders who had feuded in the past.

Political comebacks and calming storms for past governments had been a key feature in Raila’s political life.

He helped calm storms that the governments of presidents Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, and Uhuru Kenyatta faced. His political wizardry and effortless ability to rally the masses to support his decisions turned him into a political fortress, feared by the sitting government and adored by his army of supporters.

It was this force that helped him rally support for the Constitution 2010.

So daring was Raila that even after he was threatened by governments, teargassed, and even his own vehicle shot at, he would still wake up the next morning to rewrite the same script.

This bravery earned him admiration and rallied more supporters behind him. According to observers, Raila knew when to increase the pressure knob on the government and when to back down. His moves always left his supporters with mixed feelings. Observers describe him as a campaigner for better governance. A fighter of democracy and a man who endured physical pain to ensure that Kenya had a multiparty system.

Several times, he gave up his ambitions for the national good. For instance, in 2018 and at the height of their political tiff with former President Uhuru, Raila walked back.

At the time, Raila’s move ended seven months of bloodshed by police, injuries, and political tensions. He said all the 44 Kenyan communities must walk together to Canaan- the proverbial land of milk and honey, which he has been promising his supporters.

Regardless of what happens, however, Raila has done his part. He championed democracy, drummed up support for devolution and chose unity. In the weeks before his death, he had called on the national government to strengthen counties as a pillar of development.

In August, Raila rooted for more autonomy of county governments and the transfer of all schools to the counties, arguing that the national government must stop micromanaging county governments. 

Governance expert Francis Ominde, who worked closely with Raila during his tenure as Prime Minister, said Raila’s input in shaping the governance framework of devolution demonstrated his lifelong belief that resources and power must be shared equitably among all Kenyans.

“He constantly reminded us that the Constitution was not just a legal document—it was a promise to the people of Kenya for fairness, accountability, and inclusivity,” Ominde said.