NAIROBI, Kenya — Lawyer Paul Mwangi, who served as Raila Odinga’s long-time legal adviser, has offered rare insights into his 14-year journey alongside the late former Prime Minister, portraying him as a leader defined by restraint, integrity, and an unshakable belief in principle over politics.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s JKLive, Mwangi recalled how he first came into Raila’s orbit in 2011, not as a political insider, but as a columnist and political analyst on the television show The Kibaki Succession hosted by Julie Gichuru.
“At that time, I was part of a weekly panel discussing succession politics during President Kibaki’s final years. I never imagined joining Raila’s team until his aide, Idris Abdirahman, approached me and said I was the right person to replace Miguna Miguna,” Mwangi recounted.
He said he initially hesitated, seeking advice from friends—some of whom discouraged him—but eventually met Raila at his Karen residence, a meeting that lasted over two hours and marked the beginning of a long professional relationship.
“He wanted to see me, so I went to his house. We had tea and spoke about his beliefs, his past, and his vision for Kenya. That’s when I started to frame my understanding of the person I would be working for,” he said.
Lawyer Paul Mwangi: It was not a simple thing to serve and advise someone like Raila; it was a privilege. He held principled positions on issues and stuck to them no matter the price he had to pay. He was always consistent #JKLive
Mwangi said he had admired Odinga long before joining his team, particularly for his firm stance on the Mau Forest conservation campaign, which he described as a defining moment in Raila’s political courage.
“I was a columnist then and applauded him for standing firm on Mau. He knew the political cost—especially in the Rift Valley—but he stuck with his principles. That’s when I understood he was a man of conviction,” Mwangi noted.
Describing his experience in the Office of the Prime Minister, Mwangi said Raila was disciplined, consistent, and devoid of ethnic bias, expecting his staff to prove their worth through merit and resilience.
Lawyer Paul Mwangi: The slogan “Baba, while you were away” started after the 2013 elections. During that period, Raila was humiliated by the government and was even denied access to the VIP lounge at the airport. Yet, Raila was never a whiner #JKLive
“He never gave anyone special favours. You had to learn to swim with the sharks and have a thick skin,” he said.
Reflecting on Raila’s temperament, Mwangi revealed that the opposition leader deliberately avoided suing critics, even when pressured by allies to retaliate.
He cited the aftermath of the 2017 elections, when former aide Miguna Miguna published defamatory remarks about Raila.
“Some people wanted a major defamation suit. Others even proposed that I use the Attorney General’s office to have Miguna charged with criminal libel,” Mwangi recalled. “I advised him against it. I told him we would not sue.”
Instead, Mwangi drafted a public statement articulating Odinga’s position. “We needed to explain why we wouldn’t go to court, but I didn’t want Raila directly involved. The next morning, he called and said, ‘Okay, you proceed.’ That Sunday, the statement ran in the Nation, explaining why he wouldn’t sue Miguna.”
He revealed that the only time Raila came close to litigation was against former Garissa Township MP Aden Duale, but even that case was not pursued.
“We filed to make a point, but never served the summons. Technically, Raila never sued anyone—not even the media,” Mwangi said.
Lawyer Paul Mwangi: I advised Raila not to sue Miguna Miguna or have him arrested. Raila has never sued the media; he only sued Aden Duale once #JKLive
The lawyer emphasized that Raila viewed criticism as part of public life, insisting that freedom of expression outweighed personal grievances.
“He would say, ‘Whatever has been said is wrong, but I am a public figure. Defamation and criticism come with the job,” Mwangi said.
Surprisingly, Mwangi also credited Miguna Miguna for his loyalty and diligence during Raila’s tenure as Prime Minister.
“The work Miguna did at that time—nobody else could have done. There was a deliberate attempt to diminish Raila’s stature as Prime Minister, but Miguna fought hard to protect that office’s dignity,” he said.
Lawyer Paul Mwangi recounts the 2017 presidential election between Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga, and the events that followed after the Supreme Court declared it null and void #JKLive
Reflecting on his years of service, Mwangi described it as both challenging and rewarding. “It was a privilege to serve someone so principled and unbending in his values. He believed in ideas, not power for its own sake. Raila Odinga stood for what was right, even when it came at a cost.”
In an era where political loyalty often shifts with convenience, Mwangi’s reflections paint a portrait of Raila Odinga as a leader whose legacy rests not only on his politics but on his rare restraint, consistency, and moral clarity.
