SALUTING A STATESMAN: THE ENDURING LEGACY OF RAILA AMOLO ODINGA.
Today, the 15th of October 2025, I join the people of Kenya, the continent of Africa, and the world at large in mourning the passing of a true patriot, a statesman of unparalleled stature, and the conscience of our Republic; the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga.On behalf of my family and I, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the Odinga family, to Mama Ida Odinga, Rosemary, Raila Junior, and Winnie. Your loss is deeply personal, yet profoundly national.
We grieve with you. We stand with you. And we pray that the Almighty God grants you comfort, strength, and peace during this incredibly difficult time.I consider myself immensely fortunate to have had two father figures in my life.
The first was my biological father, the late Senior Jared Obuola Osiany, who molded my early years and instilled in me the values that continue to guide me. Osiany Senior guided me as a young boy and as a grown man in the ways of life and instilled in me the discipline and values which have come to define and drive my life.
The second was Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, who became a mentor, guide, and political father figure when I was a young adult, serving as a student leader at the University of Nairobi under SONU.
From those formative years, Raila Odinga became not just a political mentor, but a moral compass. He offered counsel, opportunity, and above all, an unwavering belief in the power of young people to shape the destiny of this nation.
I am but one among the numerous young leaders across this country and continent, whose political consciousness, sense of duty, and purpose were shaped under his tutelage.He knew our strengths and weaknesses as his sons and daughters; his students.
He taught us to value and cherish honesty. He taught us to engrave humanity in our hearts. He reminded us to put country before self. He taught us patriotism and diligence. With his guidance, I have learnt. I have grown.
To speak of Kenya’s political evolution (our democracy, our freedoms, our constitutional gains, and our standing on the global stage) is to speak of Raila Odinga.A fearless champion of justice and democracy, Raila paid the ultimate price for the liberties we now enjoy.
He was detained without trial, tortured, and separated from his beloved family, all in the service of an idea: a freer, fairer, and more just Kenya. We are here as a nation because of his years of servanthood to the Kenyan citizens, servitude to the idea of democracy, and sacrifice for a better tomorrow; because he always put country before himself.
He bore the weight of our hopes and the burden of our future. His name is etched across every pivotal moment in Kenya’s modern history:
• The fight for multi-party democracy•
The struggle for expanded civic and democratic space in the 1990s• The fall of the KANU regime after 24 years in power• The journey towards the 2010 Constitution, from the 2005 referendum to the historic promulgation at Uhuru Park•
The transitions between administrations — Moi, Kibaki, Uhuru, and Ruto• And most recently, the elevation of youth voices in national discourse through the Gen Z conversations of 2024/25In each of these chapters, Raila Odinga’s fingerprints are unmistakable. His vision, tenacity, and deep patriotism shaped the Kenya we know today.As a young student leader, I often sought his advice on matters of governance and activism. His door was always open, not just to me, but to countless other student leaders across the nation.
He listened. He advised. He mentored. He cared.That relationship grew into a bond of deep mentorship and friendship over the last two decades. The Odinga family became part of mine. They stood with us through defining personal moments. From our wedding, where they offered blessings to my wife Syombua Osiany and I, to the passing of my father in 2022, when they walked with us through our grief.Through Raila’s recommendation, I secured a Chevening Scholarship to pursue my master’s studies at one of the world’s top universities in the United Kingdom.
Through Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), under his leadership, I stepped into national service, culminating in my appointment in 2020 as Chief Administrative Secretary at the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade, and Enterprise Development. It was an opportunity to translate his teachings into tangible service for the Kenyan people.Today, I am stunned. I am heartbroken. Words fall short.
But amid our collective sorrow, I urge all Kenyans to lift the Odinga family in prayer, and to stand united in honoring the monumental legacy that Raila leaves behind.
The Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga was not just a leader; he was an idea. A movement. A symbol of resilience. A man whose life was dedicated, wholly and selflessly, to the dream of a better Kenya.
As we mourn his passing, let us rise to protect his legacy. Let us carry forward his ideals of justice, equity, democracy, and national unity. And let us, above all, ensure that the Kenya he gave everything for, continues to thrive and grow.May he rest in eternal peace.
Statement by Hon. David Osiany, HSC.
