Former US President Barrack Obama mourns Raila as a Global Icon
News Updated: 18 October 2025 14:50 EAT
Former U.S. President Barack Obama has paid a powerful and heartfelt tribute to Kenya’s longtime opposition leader and former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, honouring him as a "true champion of democracy" and a symbol of resilience and reconciliation in African politics.
In a statement released early Saturday, Obama praised Odinga's decades-long commitment to freedom, justice, and good governance in Kenya.
Recalling his personal observations, Obama highlighted Odinga's consistent focus on national unity, often prioritizing peace over personal political gain. “Raila Odinga was a true champion of democracy. A child of independence, he endured decades of struggle and sacrifice for the broader cause of freedom and self-governance in Kenya,” Obama stated.
He continued, “Time and again, I personally saw him put the interests of his country ahead of his own ambitions. Like few other leaders anywhere, he was willing to choose the path of peaceful reconciliation without compromising his core values.”
Obama, who shares longstanding ties with Kenya due to his Kenyan father, emphasized that Odinga’s influence reached far beyond Kenya's borders. “Through his life, Raila Odinga set an example not just for Kenyans, but across Africa and around the world. I know he will be missed,” Obama concluded.
The former President and former First Lady Michelle Obama extended their deepest sympathies, sending condolences “to his family and to the people of Kenya.”
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