NAIROBI, Kenya – Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has shared an emotional tribute, hours before the former Prime Minister, the late Raila Odinga’s burial.
In the video, the former President reminisces on his time with Odinga and mostly post-handshake.
The two shook hands in 2018 after a highly disputed election that Kenyatta won after repeated polls that Odinga never took part in.
He begins by acknowledging the weight of the moment: the passing of a man who, despite deep political differences, earned his respect and loyalty through resilience and integrity.
He highlights how, over time, he and Odinga found common ground in pursuing unity, stability, and national healing.
In the montage, viewers see them walking side by side at public events, jointly addressing the nation, and sharing moments of mutual respect.
Kenyatta praises Odinga’s courage in standing by his convictions, even when under pressure, and credits him with contributing significantly to Kenya’s constitutional reforms, particularly devolution and the 2010 Constitution.
He recalls the “Hand of Peace” era, saying their handshake was not just a political pact but a call to national reconciliation.
He also speaks candidly about their bond: “I have lost a friend and a brother,” he says, adding that their conversations, sometimes contentious, always pushed him to sharpen his own convictions.
To Mama Ida Odinga, the children, and the broader Odinga family, Kenyatta extends his deepest sympathy and gratitude for sharing Baba with Kenya all these years.
The video is a quiet but powerful testament: a gesture of unity and homage, affirming that Odinga’s legacy reached beyond partisanship, and that even in death, his life remains a bridge across Kenya’s political divides.
