Nairobi County Assembly pays emotional tribute to Raila’s enduring influence

The Nairobi County Assembly on Tuesday devoted its first sitting of the week to honouring the memory of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, whose death on October 15, 2025, left a deep void in Kenya’s political and social landscape.

The special session, attended by leaders across party lines, was marked by emotional tributes celebrating Odinga’s immense contribution to democracy, justice, and public service.

Assembly Speaker Ken Ngondi opened the session with a moving reflection, describing Odinga as “a towering figure whose leadership transformed lives.”

He recalled how the late ODM leader mentored him and countless others, offering opportunities that helped shape their political paths.

“Raila Odinga opened doors for many of us who came from humble backgrounds. He believed in the potential of ordinary Kenyans and gave us the courage to lead,” he said.

Majority Leader Peter Imwatok shared his own experience, recounting how Odinga lifted him from hardship to political leadership.

“Baba picked me from poverty in Makongeni, where I worked as a night watchman for Kenya Railways. Through his guidance, I became the first person from the small Teso community to be elected three times consecutively as Makongeni MCA,” he said.

Imwatok praised Odinga’s boldness in standing for what was right, noting his fight to preserve the Mau Forest as a sign of true leadership and courage.

Minority Leader Anthony Kiragu described Odinga as an irreplaceable leader whose loss would be felt for generations.

“Baba endured a lot of pain to inspire many. He is Kenya’s best friend that the country never truly had — and the best African Union Commission Chairman that Africa never had,” Kiragu said.

He added that Odinga’s ability to always seek peace over chaos stood out in a political environment often marked by confrontation.

“He consistently chose stability over endless chaos, a rare quality in our political landscape,” Kiragu observed.

Deputy Speaker Paul Kados said Odinga’s name had become a permanent part of Kenya’s story, describing his pursuit of fairness as unmatched.

He recalled his decision in 1994 to leave Ford Kenya, form the National Development Party, and later capture the Lang’ata parliamentary seat — a move that signified his courage, vision, and determination to expand democratic space.

While many MCAs celebrated Odinga’s unifying spirit, Majority Chief Whip Moses Ogeto criticised what he called political hypocrisy.

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“It is hypocritical for those who spent years undermining Baba to now stand before cameras,” he said, referring to some of Odinga’s former rivals who had begun offering public praise after his death.

The special session followed a recent visit by the MCAs to Kisumu and Bondo, where they met Mama Ida Odinga and the family to convey their condolences at the Opoda farm.

The assembly had earlier held a joint workshop in Kisumu before travelling to Bondo to mourn with the Odinga family.

In early September 2025, just a month before his passing, Raila Odinga met Nairobi MCAs and appealed to them to put aside political wrangles and focus on service delivery.

His intervention came at a tense moment when some Azimio-allied members were pushing to impeach Governor Johnson Sakaja.

Odinga urged dialogue and reconciliation, reminding the leaders that true leadership meant not pursuing political vendettas.

His counsel led to the suspension of the impeachment bid and underscored his commitment to peace and stability until his final days.