Raila Odinga: The Man who Cared
Paying my respects to a Kenyan legend. On October 15th 2025, Raila Odinga passed away at the age of 80. His death was a blow to Kenyans. Raila Amolo Odinga was not just a politician. He wasn't just a Prime Minister. He was a maverick. A fighter. A hero. As a Kenyan Gen Z who hails from the same region of Kenya as Raila (Siaya county), I know some things about him, but not a whole lot. The first time I heard about him was when my parents and a friend were discussing the 2007 elections (I was four years old at the time). I'm not old enough to remember how Raila was in his political prime; but from what I've heard from my parents, he was a force to be reckoned with. Raila was the son of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. Jaramogi was a key player in Kenya's struggle for independence and became Kenya's first Vice President. The phrase "like father, like son" clearly applied to Raila. He was a strong advocate for a multi-party political system, which seemed l...