×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Informed Minds Prefer The Standard
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download Now

Humble but firm: Host Engstrom recalls Raila's life in exile in Norway

Military officers escort the casket bearing the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to the graveside at his father's home Kang'o ka Jaramogu in Bondo, on October 19, 2025. [PCS]

Sometime in 1991, when Raila Odinga was forced into exile at the height of the struggle for multiparty democracy in Kenya, he found an unlikely sanctuary in the quiet, snow-covered suburbs of Norway.

So intense was the political turbulence then that when the Norwegian Embassy waded in following a dispute over the arrest of a political activist, a diplomatic spat ensued. 

Get Full Access for Ksh99/Week
Uncover the stories others won’t tell. Subscribe now for exclusive access
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimized reading experience
  • Weekly Newsletters
  • MPesa, Airtel Money and Cards accepted
Access this article for Ksh5
Already a subscriber? Log in