I received the devastating news of the death of the Second Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya and my dear brother, Rt Hon Raila Amolo Odinga this morning, upon my arrival at Heathrow International Airport, London, United Kingdom where I am on a scheduled 10-day programme.
Rt Hon Odinga, fondly referred to for decades as ‘Baba’ by his ardent supporters, family and friends, and, albeit begrudging in admiration by his most-fiercest detractors, was more than an enigma. Baba was a force of nature that kept on going and going, despite and in spite of the hurdles put in front of him.
Baba was the longest suffering political detainee in Kenya. At the heart of the struggle for multipartyism, Raila’s body bore the scars of the slings and arrows, bullets and batons, that no man or woman should ever endure.
Yet, at each point of release from the detention cells and torture chambers, he would raise his arms up to the heavens, his fist clenched in determination; resolved that the tears and painful scars he personally suffered, would yield to democracy and freedom for his beloved Kenya.
That is why we call him the Champion of the Second Political Liberation.
Baba’s physical and mental struggle for Kenya – well documented nationally and internationally – earned him the title ‘Agwambo’.
In the years I interacted with Agwambo professionally in Kenya’s political space, I got to understand why he was referred to as that.
From the Opposition benches to the Government side as Prime Minister, to August 27, 2010, the day our New Constitution was promulgated, my brother Raila, played an instrumental and integral role in devolving power from an imperial presidency to a people’s centred constitutional order. For that, we owe him our immense gratitude.
Since 2013, I had the singular privilege of working very closely and passionately with my brother, twice as his running mate both in CORD and NASA, as well as his partner in the Azimio La Umoja – One Kenya Coalition.
We learnt a lot from each other, and, shared a lot of pain together.
To Mama Ida, and the entire family, in particular Rosemary, Raila Junior and Winne, as much as I cannot imagine the shock and the heartbreak that you are currently going through, I want you to know that my family and I stand in solidarity with you. In this regard, I know that all Kenyans are praying for you.
Kenya has lost an exemplary leader, the President who won but was never declared and sworn into office. The loss of Rt Hon Raila Odinga is not only a loss to his family and country, but also to the entire African continent.
I will miss my brother and friend dearly.
I am therefore rearranging my schedule of engagements in the United Kingdom in honour of my fallen brother.
May God rest the soul of Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga in everlasting peace.
HE Dr Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, EGH, SC, CS.
Tenth Vice President of the Republic of Kenya,
Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) Party Leader.
