Veteran journalist and media personality Linda Oguttu has publicly criticised Kenyan politicians for continuing to invoke the late Raila Odinga’s name in political arguments and power struggles — even months after his passing.
In a strongly worded post on her official X account on January 28, 2026, Oguttu urged leaders to stop claiming that “Baba told me” or “Baba called me” to justify their political decisions, alliances, or personal relevance.
Instead, she said, politicians should “fight on their own” and stop using the late political icon’s legacy for personal or factional advantage.
Oguttu’s message directly addressed what she described as a growing trend of politicians hanging onto Raila Odinga’s name for political survival.
She reminded the public that “Raila is gone”, referring to the respected former prime minister, and called on leaders to build their platforms on their own merits rather than clinging to past affiliations.
“Watu sasa waache ‘baba called, told me’. Raila is gone… Watu sasa wapambane kivyao. Waache kushikilia koti ya baba,” she wrote — translated as: “People should now stop saying ‘Baba called me’. Raila is gone… fight on your own and stop hanging on Baba’s coat.”
Oguttu acknowledged the former prime minister’s significant contributions to Kenya’s democratic development, adding that his role in shaping the country’s political landscape and defending civic rights will be etched forever in history.
However, she insisted that extending his influence beyond his life — particularly for political convenience — is inappropriate and unfair.
The remarks by Oguttu come amid ongoing debates within major political formations, especially the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), where disagreements over strategy for the 2027 general election have been widely reported.
Some politicians aligned with a broad-based government arrangement have claimed private discussions with the late Raila regarding future political direction.
Those claims have been controversial and challenged by rival factions within the same party.
For example, Winnie Odinga, Raila’s daughter and a prominent political figure, publicly dismissed assertions by some party leaders that they enjoyed unique private counsel from the former prime minister.
She maintained that Raila made his political intentions and public positions known openly, and therefore no one should claim special access or secret influence from him.
Raila Odinga passed away on October 15, 2025, at the age of 80 after a prolonged public life marked by political reform efforts, multiple presidential campaigns, and a legacy as a key figure in Kenya’s democratic progress.
National leaders, including President William Ruto, have described Odinga as “the people’s president,” underscoring his influence across political lines despite never having served as head of state.