Let Us Honour Raila’s Legacy to Move Kenya Forward, Says Interior CS Murkomen

By Kepher Otieno - Reporter

Kenya, 27 October 2025 - A week after the burial of the late Raila Amolo Odinga, tributes to the veteran opposition leader and statesman continue to pour in from across the country.

Leaders are now calling for a national commitment to uphold his legacy — one built on the pillars of democracy, infrastructure growth, and unity.

Speaking in Kisumu, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen led the latest wave of tributes, urging Kenyans to keep Odinga’s dream alive by steering the country toward inclusive development and good governance.

“Raila Odinga had a big dream for this country which he passionately shared with President William Ruto,” Mr Murkomen said.

“The dualing of major highways such as Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit, the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway, SGR, through Kisumu to Malaba, and the expansion of airports and energy networks are part of that shared vision.”

Mr Murkomen emphasized that Odinga’s legacy transcended politics, describing him as a man whose ideas and convictions shaped Kenya’s democratic and developmental trajectory.

“He stood for human rights, unity, and freedom of expression,” he noted.

“Honouring him means ensuring those principles continue guiding our nation.”

The Interior CS also lauded the government’s development programmes, citing ongoing affordable housing projects and reforms in the health sector through the Social Health Authority (SHA) as part of the country’s journey toward equitable growth.

Mr Murkomen further highlighted the government’s resolve in combating illicit drugs and alcohol, referencing the recent seizure of narcotics worth Sh8.2 billion in Mombasa — one of the largest in Kenya’s history.

“We will not allow such vices to thrive,” he said, adding that the suspects - six Iranian nationals -behind the 1,024 kilogrammes of methamphetamine will be arraigned in court once investigations are completed, before the consignment is destroyed.

In a reflective tone, the CS thanked the security agencies for ensuring a peaceful and dignified state funeral for Odinga, noting the logistical challenges that came with the national mourning period.

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He also turned his attention to national examinations, assuring that the ministry is working with education stakeholders to guarantee a smooth and secure process for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA), and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) candidates.

“We want to ensure integrity, safety, and fairness in this crucial exercise,” he said, wishing all candidates success.

The Kisumu event drew a significant lineup of regional and national leaders, including Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili, Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda, Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron, and Kiambaa MP John Kawanjiku, alongside ODM grassroots leaders and members of the clergy.

The leaders echoed Murkomen’s message, urging Kenyans to preserve Odinga’s vision for unity and progress.

They condemned divisive rhetoric and ethnic animosity, describing such tendencies as individual, not communal sentiments.

Dr Owili described Odinga as “a unifying force who believed that Kenya’s future was brighter when leaders worked together,” while Ruth emphasized the need to sustain ODM’s unity even amid ideological differences.

“We owe it to Baba to keep the house together,” she said.

The clergy present also prayed for peace and cohesion, calling Odinga’s passing “a divine reminder that leadership is service, not self.”

The event concluded with a renewed call for bipartisan cooperation, with leaders from both sides acknowledging President Ruto’s gesture in granting Odinga a befitting state funeral — a move widely interpreted as a signal of reconciliation and respect for the former Prime Minister’s contribution to the nation.

As Kenya continues to process the loss of one of its most consequential leaders, the mood in Kisumu captured the emerging consensus: that honouring Odinga’s legacy means building bridges, not walls — and moving the country forward together.