Kenya is set to mark one year since the death of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, with a series of nationwide activities planned to honour his life, political journey and contribution to the country.
Raila died on October 15, 2025, aged 80, while receiving medical treatment in Kochi, India.
His death brought to an end a political career spanning several decades and left a major mark on Kenya’s political history.
As the first anniversary approaches, his family and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have announced separate but overlapping programmes to commemorate the former premier.
Orange Democratic Movement has designated October 2026 as “Mwezi wa Baba”, with the commemorations beginning with a nationwide candle-lighting ceremony on Friday, October 2.
Kenyans at home and abroad have been encouraged to light candles at exactly 6pm as a moment of remembrance.
In Nairobi, the main gathering will be held at Uhuru Park Grounds. Similar activities are planned at designated venues across the country.
The programme will continue with memorial activities in different parts of the country, including a major gathering in Kakamega on October 9.
Family-led events are scheduled between October 10 and 15, culminating in a memorial service at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo on October 15, exactly one year after Raila’s death.
Raila’s family has also established a National Steering Committee chaired by Professor Adams Oloo to coordinate anniversary activities.
The family has said the commemoration should provide an opportunity for ordinary Kenyans who supported and interacted with Raila during his lifetime to remember, mourn and celebrate his life.
The family-led programme is scheduled to run from October 10 to 17, with activities expected to bring together people from different communities, generations, political backgrounds and institutions.
The main family commemoration is expected to culminate at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, where Raila was buried following his state funeral in October 2025.
Raila’s death marked the end of one of the longest political careers in Kenya’s modern history. He served as Prime Minister between 2008 and 2013 and was a central figure in opposition politics for decades.
In the months following his death, ODM underwent a leadership transition, with his elder brother, Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, eventually confirmed as the party’s leader.
The anniversary comes as Kenya continues to reflect on Raila’s political legacy, including his role in the country’s multiparty politics, constitutional reform debates and devolution.
For his family, supporters and many Kenyans who followed his political journey, October 15 will provide a moment to look back at the life of a politician whose influence extended across generations.
The commemorations will therefore not only mark one year since Raila’s passing but also provide an opportunity for Kenyans to revisit the events, struggles and milestones that shaped his long public life.
