NAIROBI, Kenya — Residents of Njiru in Kasarani constituency on Sunday dedicated a three-kilometre estate road to the former Prime Minister, the late Raila Odinga, in a heartfelt gesture to honour his legacy and contributions to Kenya’s political and infrastructural development.
Led by local leaders and boda boda operators, the community unveiled a blue and orange signpost inscribed “Raila Odinga Road,” symbolically aligning with the colours of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which Odinga led until his death on October 15.
“I am the chairman of Kamatuto, Njiru, and we are here today as the residents and the Njiru office to remember Baba,” said the residents’ chairperson during the ceremony. “We have decided to have the Raila Odinga Road here in Kamatuto. By doing this, we want to tell Kenyans and even our leaders like Governor Sakaja and MP Karauri that we now have a road that honours Raila here.”
The road, which runs from Kangundo Road through Kamatuto Estate and links to Mwiki, is currently in poor condition. Residents used the dedication ceremony to appeal to Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri to prioritise its rehabilitation.
They argued that revamping the stretch could boost local trade and mobility by easing access to key parts of the Kasarani constituency.
“If developed, this road will open up the estate economically,” one resident remarked. “It’s not just a name; it’s a call to action for development in honour of Baba.”
This is not the first Nairobi road to bear Raila Odinga’s name. In 2021, the Nairobi County Government renamed Mbagathi Way to Raila Odinga Way in recognition of his decades-long service to the nation and his role in advancing democracy.
That 6-kilometre dual carriageway connects Lang’ata Road to Ngong Road and stands as one of the capital’s key arteries.
Raila Odinga, who once served as Minister for Roads, Public Works, and Housing, was widely credited with driving major infrastructure initiatives and advocating for democratic reform.
The Njiru renaming, though modest, reflects the enduring affection many Kenyans hold for the veteran opposition leader—an emblem of resilience, reform, and national unity.
“This is our small way of saying thank you to a man who built roads for Kenya—now we build one for him,” the chairperson concluded, as chants of “Baba forever!” echoed through the dusty Njiru road.
