Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino on October 21, paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Raila Amolo Odinga, describing him as a mentor, father figure, and Kenya’s greatest champion of democracy. In his message, Babu Owino drew parallels to the legendary Athenian leader Pericles. Babu located Raila’s life within the timeless struggle for justice, freedom, and the rule of law. His tribute captures grief at the loss of a legend and a call to action to see Kenya through Raila’s eyes and carry forward his dream of a just, inclusive, and democratic nation. Here is the tribute:
Tribute of Babu to Raila Odinga
“Fellow Kenyans, history teaches us that the birthplace of Democracy is the Greek City of Athens. In their Democratic traditions the Athenians did not leave us without a guide on what to do when a Great Statesman dies.
An adequate example is given when Pericles, one of the finest democrats history has known rose to give his funeral oration in honour of the Athenian soldiers who had perished defending their City State in 431BC.
In contrast to the rigid character of the Spartans who defended status quo through the power of the bullet, Pericles painted the superior cultures of the Athenian Democratic Warriors who stood in the face of threats to their lives and defended their country, their culture and their people including with their last breath.
Fellow Kenyans every time I have checked these history books, they have read like the life of Raila Amolo Odinga was written long before he was born. The Luo People have called him AGWAMBO meaning MYSTERY, a word that attempts to capture the unique nature of his courage, intelligence and foresight.
While still a youth he was condemned to a detention without trial, denied even the simple basic right to a fair trial. Through a decade in dark solitary cells Raila’s spirit did not break down.
Also Read: Ruto Confers Raila with the Highest Honor
He would emerge from those Maximum-Security Prisons in 1991 to join his voice with those of his fellow patriots to assault the infamous Section 2A and usher in the first Multiparty elections of our country.
Raila Odinga then chose to build political institutions (NDP all through to ODM) to help mobilise and channel the progressive voices of the oppressed Kenyans to push for constant reforms that ultimately gave us a New Constitution entrenched with a right that cannot be limited under any circumstances (even in war or peace or under a state of emergency), the RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL having been among the many Kenyans who were arrested, abducted, tortured and some killed in the struggle for a better country.
I stand here today, alongside the Millennials and GenZs and all other Kenyans of all walks, rich and poor, from the lake region, the mountain regions, the coastal, the Nyika Plateaus and all other places to pay tribute to a man who risked his life to carry our own aspirations at moments when we could not speak for ourselves under the fear of the terror of the bullet.
The question we ask today as young people in this country is what lessons might we have picked from Raila’s life’s body of work? Do we see Kenya from the lenses of The Right Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga?
Do we see a Kenya in which power is obtained through the ballot and not the bullet as he wanted? Do we see a Kenya in which power is maintained through consent and not coercion?
Do we see Kenya as an exclusive members-only club where a few powerful and influential individuals plunder all state resources while our fellow citizens stand helpless burdened by the weight of poverty, ignorance, disease and bad governance?
Also Read: A Tribute to Raila Odinga: The Hero, the Strategist, and the Contradiction
This is how Raila Amolo Odinga asks us to see Kenya in his personal autobiography, RAILA ODINGA: THE FLAME OF FREEDOM: He says in the last page of his book: “Those who lead the Kenyan way must remain passionately and tirelessly committed and always resolute, for we know it is only when we arrive at our destination that the African Dream will finally be realised”
He concludes by telling us, “The road might be difficult, and obstacles might at times seem insurmountable, but until we reach that time, and find that place, the flame of freedom will never be extinguished”.
Fellow Citizens, in the grand aspirations of the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, a personal friend, mentor, father and a legend to Babu Owino and the many Kenyans who have thronged the streets of our country to mourn his death, BABA, TINGA, AGWAMBO, The Flame of Freedom will never be extinguished.
Nothing, not even the deadly crocodiles, will stop us from reaching Caanan. We will miss him deeply.”
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
