Uhuru Kenyatta remembers Raila in touching tribute
Uhuru recounted how he and Raila often spent quiet evenings discussing the country’s challenges and imagining the conversations of Kenya’s founding fathers, Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, in the afterlife.
At Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, former President Uhuru Kenyatta struck a delicate balance between sorrow and light-hearted remembrance as he paid tribute to the late Raila Odinga.
Reflecting on their decades-long relationship marked by rivalry, friendship, and shared love for Kenya, Uhuru recounted how he and Raila often spent quiet evenings discussing the country’s challenges and imagining the conversations of Kenya’s founding fathers, Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, in the afterlife.
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“Sometimes after work, we would sit together, talking and laughing,” Uhuru shared. “I once asked him, those old men who died before us, Jaramogi and Jomo — when they sit, what do they discuss? I said they must talk about politics just like us.”
He paused, allowing a gentle smile to show through his grief:
“But now, Raila, you’ve left and you’re talking with them. It’s not that I’m in a hurry to come where you are, but I still want to be around.”
The crowd laughed softly, but the mood quickly returned to reflection as Uhuru spoke of the personal loss he felt.
“My heart is heavy, and my spirit is burdened with a grief that is both profound and deeply personal,” he said. “The news of Raila’s passing has left a silence that echoes across our nation, a silence where once there was a voice of thunder and conviction.”
Describing Raila as more than a political figure, Uhuru said he was a defining presence in Kenya’s political history and in his own journey.
“Raila and I were navigators on opposing currents, charting different courses for the nation we both loved,” he said. “At some point along that journey, we became political opponents. The competition was tough, but from it came respect and a shared patriotism.”
Uhuru noted that the 2018 Handshake exemplified Raila’s commitment to the nation.
“He made you sharpen your ideas, defend your positions, and think beyond yourself,” he said. “He loved Kenya more than anything else - he was not tribal, and he always stood for unity, peace, and justice.”
He urged Kenyans to honour Raila’s memory by protecting the democratic gains he championed.
“As we bid him farewell, let’s promise to ensure that the democracy and freedoms Raila fought for will never be wiped away. We will not allow this country to go backwards - that is what Raila would have wanted.”
Closing his tribute, Uhuru expressed gratitude to Raila’s family for sharing him with the nation.
“I have come to mourn a friend and a brother,” he said. “Even in our sadness, let’s take the opportunity to appreciate Mama Ida and the family. To Kenyans, I say thank you for giving us Raila.”
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