A white priest once refused to baptise Raila Odinga, Bishop David Kodia reveals

Prof David Kodia, Bishop of the Anglican Bondo Diocese, has recounted the spiritual journey of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, revealing that a white priest once declined to baptise him due to his African name.

Speaking on Sunday during the funeral service of the late leader at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kodia said despite the rejection, Odinga’s faith never wavered, culminating in his confirmation and full membership in the Anglican Church shortly before his death.

“Raila was a faithful member of the Anglican Church. He was baptised under controversial circumstances when a white priest refused to baptise him because his father chose the name Raila Amolo Odinga instead of a Mr John or David or something else,” Bishop Kodia said.

He explained that before his death, Odinga completed the process of confirmation, becoming a full member of the Anglican Church with the right to take Holy Communion.

“Before he died, he took steps to be confirmed. At times, he visited Canterbury and met the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. He was confirmed as a full member of the Anglican Church, given the right to take Holy Communion. The last time we had a service at St Peter’s Church, it was his first time taking Holy Communion in his own church after confirmation. We are giving him a full Christian burial,” he said.

Kodia reflected on Odinga’s connection to his local parish, St Peter’s Church Nyamira, saying the late leader was a devoted member of both the parish and the Bondo Diocese.

“He was a faithful member, and the church now feels the loss greatly because of the enormous presence of his family. I want the world to know that Odinga was a faithful member of the Anglican Church,” he said.

He also expressed gratitude to the President and the entire team involved in organising the state funeral, describing their efforts as historic and unprecedented. He said the cooperation between the government and the church had made the preparations smoother and allowed the Anglican Diocese of Bondo to play its role fully in honouring the late leader.

Retired Bishop Joseph Wesonga reflected on the legacy of Odinga, highlighting his lifelong commitment to gender equality and social justice. He urged Kenyans to ensure adequate representation of women in all electoral positions, noting that this would honour Raila’s vision.

“We know the late Raila Odinga was a champion of gender equality. I want to plead that Kenya ensures we elect the right number of women to all electoral positions because that will please Raila,” he said.

He called on citizens to remain steadfast in upholding democratic principles and to pursue justice, emphasising that Odinga’s dedication to listening to the people and advocating against gender-based violence should continue to guide the country.

“Death has disrupted the ODM party, the broad-based government, and the country. But the joy is that God promises to be with us. Let us wait upon the Lord, do what is right, and allow the democracy of our nation to grow,” he said.

“God is close to those who mourn. We are gathered to share in the grief of Mama Ida and the entire Odinga family. We have come to give them support so that they do not grieve alone.”

Raila’s wife, Ida Odinga, is a canon of the Anglican Church and was introduced as such during the funeral service at Nyayo Stadium on Friday.

Earlier this year, on June 29, Ida was translated as a canon of honour at the Anglican Church of Kenya in Bondo, a recognition for faithful and valuable service over the years.

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Speaking at the event, Odinga acknowledged his wife’s deep faith, saying, “Ida is a very staunch Christian. I live with Ida, and I know how she feels as a Christian. She has stronger faith than I, I must confess. I am also a Christian, and I was confirmed by the Archbishop of Canterbury in London. That’s why I didn’t have to be confirmed by the Bishop here.”

Odinga’s baptism story was also detailed in his 2013 autobiography, Flame of Freedom.

He explained that his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, insisted he be baptised with his African name. Some priests initially objected, but eventually, a European priest agreed to baptise him and his siblings: Ngong’a Molo Oburu, Raila Amolo Odinga, and Ngire Omuodo Agola.

Odinga noted that although initially seen as unusual, many later followed suit and baptised their children with African names.

Odinga also had a lifelong engagement with Christianity, making pilgrimages to significant religious sites. He visited Damascus, where he reflected on the conversion of Saul to Paul, and Wittenberg, Germany, where Martin Luther sparked the Protestant Reformation.

He often linked his faith to political action, including in 2017 when he described himself as Joshua leading Kenyans to Canaan, drawing from the Biblical narrative.

The former Prime Minister will be buried on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at the family home in Kang’o ka Jaramogi, Bondo. His body was airlifted to his Opoda Farm residence after a public viewing at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu on Saturday.