From front pages to prime time: Raila Odinga’s unmatched grip on Kenya’s news cycle

The late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will be remembered as the most headline-grabbing politician in Kenya’s media history.

Four veteran journalists who held senior editorial roles in leading media houses told The Eastleigh Voice that Odinga’s stories dominated newsrooms for decades, earning him generous space and attention unmatched by any other politician.

So frequent were stories about him that political reporters would describe a day without Raila in the headlines as a “dry day.”

Former Nation Media Group Editor-in-Chief Mutuma Mathiu said Odinga’s boldness and creativity made him irresistible to journalists and audiences alike.

“Raila Odinga was a mobilisational genius. He was quite a character: politically bold and creative. With him, there was never a dull moment. People were curious about and interested in him,” said Mutuma.

Mutuma added that even those who opposed Raila still wanted to know what he was doing.

“A story about him would always do well. His press secretary, Denis Onyango, is excellent. He made sure Raila was accessible to all media,” he said.

Newspaper sales

Veteran journalist Peter Mutibo Leftie, who worked for both Nation Media Group and The People Daily, said stories about Raila were powerful drivers of newspaper sales.

He recalled how editors would craft headlines that captured the national political mood and boosted readership.

According to Leftie, titles such as “Acid test for Raila,” “Raila at crossroads,” or “Raila’s big headache” would attract both supporters and critics in equal measure.

“In newsrooms, we believed that any news about Raila could make newspapers fly off the shelves. Raila was loved and hated in equal measure. His supporters wanted to know his next move, while his haters were yearning to be told what he was up to,” said Leftie.

Unlike many politicians who often demanded apologies or sued over unfavourable stories, Raila rarely took offence at negative coverage.

“Raila could not sue or complain even if the news coverage didn’t favour him. Because of that, he became the darling of the media,” said Leftie.

Deep political understanding

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Reporting on Odinga, Leftie noted, required skill and deep political understanding, as the veteran opposition leader often used parables and metaphors to deliver political messages.

“Covering Raila Odinga during his active days in opposition needed someone with a good understanding of the political landscape. He could call a political rally but use proverbs to hit at his opponents. If you weren’t careful, you could miss the meaning or the news in it,” he added.

Leftie also described Odinga as a master of surprises who frequently dropped political bombshells that became national conversations overnight.

Knowledgeable

Mayaka Emeka Gekara, another seasoned journalist who worked with Nation Media Group and Mediamax Limited, said he interviewed Raila up to 17 times during his career.

“The mzee was knowledgeable in his view of matters being discussed. He often conducted research whenever he was going to face an interview, and that made him appear very intelligent all the time,” said Gekara.

He added that Raila was a gracious news source who never quarrelled over poorly written paragraphs or misplaced photos.

Journalist Anderson Ojwang, who covered Raila for the Standard Group in Nyanza during the height of his opposition years, said Odinga embodied the voice and aspirations of ordinary Kenyans.

“Raila knew what to speak in each and every forum. In fact, he was the Kenyan story that everyone wanted to read and watch,” said Ojwang.