- The University of Nairobi will launch the Raila Odinga Centre for Democracy in October.
- The Kenya School of Government has established the Raila Odinga Regional Leadership Academy.
- Daystar University is planning a symposium in memory of the late former Prime Minister.
- Mama Ida Odinga has unveiled a national steering committee to coordinate anniversary activities.
- Prof Adams Oloo will chair the committee, with Otiende Amollo and Joe Ager serving as vice chairpersons.
- ODM has announced a month-long commemoration dubbed “Mwezi wa Baba”.
Mama Ida Odinga has revealed that several institutions are preparing academic and public initiatives to honour the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga ahead of the first anniversary of his death.
Speaking at Capitol Hill on Thursday, September 17, Mama Ida said the University of Nairobi is establishing the Raila Odinga Centre for Democracy, which is scheduled for launch during the October commemorative activities. The university has said the centre will serve as a regional platform for research, scholarship and public dialogue on democracy and governance.
Mama Ida welcomed the initiatives, saying they represented an important way of preserving and advancing Raila’s legacy beyond political affiliations.
“We are profoundly grateful for the diplomatic and academic honours being extended in his memory across national institutions,” she said.
She also disclosed that Daystar University had started preparations for an elaborate symposium to remember and celebrate the former Prime Minister.
The Kenya School of Government has also established the Raila Odinga Regional Leadership Academy in honour of the late ODM leader.
Mama Ida said the academy has been designated as a centre of excellence focusing on governance practices, public sector leadership and public administration studies. The institution is located at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi and forms part of initiatives aimed at preserving Raila’s contribution to leadership and governance.
“The Kenya School of Government has established the Raila Odinga Regional Leadership Academy, designated as a centre of excellence to foster diligent governance practices, public sector leadership, and public administration studies,” she stated.
The academy joins the University of Nairobi’s planned democracy centre and Daystar’s proposed symposium as institutions prepare to mark one year since Raila’s death.
Mama Ida also announced the formation of a national steering committee that will coordinate the commemorative activities, events and institutional initiatives planned in honour of Raila.
Prof Adams Oloo will chair the committee, with Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and Joe Ager serving as vice chairpersons. The committee brings together representatives from government, political institutions, civil society, academia, the private sector and the Odinga family.
Mama Ida stressed that the commemorations would not be restricted to the committee or Raila’s political supporters. She said the first anniversary should provide an opportunity for Kenyans from different political backgrounds to remember his life and contribution to the country.
“These celebrations do not belong to the committee; they belong to the people. Baba’s people are all welcome,” she said.
Mama Ida said many Kenyans did not get an opportunity to mourn Raila in the manner they wished following his death. She described the anniversary activities as an opportunity for people to come together, remember his life and participate in the commemorations.
She further said Raila’s legacy belonged to Kenyans who believe in democracy, justice and peace, including those who held political views different from his.
The Odinga family has asked individuals and organisations seeking to organise or support anniversary activities to work through the national steering committee for proper coordination.
The Orange Democratic Movement has separately announced a month-long programme dubbed “Mwezi wa Baba” to mark one year since Raila’s death, adding a political party-led component to the wider national commemorations.
