NAIROBI, Kenya (BN24) — The late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been awarded the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart, Kenya’s highest honor, as President William Ruto recognized his contributions to democracy and nation-building on Mashujaa Day.
The honor was conferred by Ruto on Monday, a day after Odinga was buried at his family home in Bondo, Siaya County. A gazette notice dated October 20, 2025, confirmed the conferment of the First Class CGH honor to Odinga, recognizing him for exemplified courage, endurance, dedication, an unwavering commitment to the ideals of democracy and good governance, sacrifice, Pan-Africanism and faithful service to all of humanity.
In his address to Kenyans at Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui, Ruto recognized Odinga for his contribution to nation-building and enduring legacy. “The Government and people of Kenya inscribe Hon Raila Odinga’s name among the foremost of our heroes, under the public seal of the Republic,” Ruto said.
The head of state further described the former prime minister as a towering patriot and hero for the ages. “But if we, the people he so deeply loved and served, choose to live by the lessons he taught us; to love Kenya more than we love ourselves; to put unity above division; to aspire for greater, and to serve with courage and conviction, then we can become a great nation of 50 million heroes,” the president said.
Meanwhile, former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday returned to Kang’o ka Jaramogi at Odinga’s family home in Bondo to honor the memory of the late former prime minister, who was buried there Sunday.
In the quiet visit, Kenyatta was accompanied by Odinga’s elder brother and Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga. He stood solemnly at the graveside, lingering in silence as if sharing a private moment with the departed statesman.
The former president appeared deeply contemplative, his gaze fixed on the grave. He at one point raised his right hand toward Odinga’s grave for a few seconds.
After a brief prayer alongside Senator Oginga, Kenyatta chose not to speak to the media, quietly departing the site without comment.
According to an evening statement from his office, the former head of state condoled with the Odinga family and “paid tribute to the life and legacy of his longtime friend and compatriot.” “Kenyatta also visited the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum to honour the memory of the Odinga family’s enduring contribution to Kenya’s history and democracy,” it added.
Odinga, who died Wednesday after collapsing in India, was buried Sunday afternoon next to his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and his mother, Mary Ajuma. The private ceremony, during which he was accorded state honors and a seventeen-gun salute, was attended only by members of his family, top government dignitaries and guests from the burial ceremony earlier in the day.
Kenyatta was among those present Sunday and laid a wreath by Odinga’s grave. He has eulogized him as a “brother, friend and patriot” whose passing has left a deep void in the nation, saying Kenya has lost a leader whose voice of conviction and courage helped shape the country’s political history.
Last week, Kenyatta reflected on his long and complex relationship with the longtime opposition leader, describing the Orange Democratic Movement party leader as a “defining part” of his own political journey.
The two were political rivals in several elections before joining forces in the historic 2018 “Handshake” after Odinga unsuccessfully challenged Kenyatta in the 2017 polls, quelling the political storm that followed the disputed election.
“Raila and I were navigators on opposing currents, charting different courses for the nation we both loved. At some point, we became political opponents and often, the weight of that competition felt immense,” the former president said. “Baba, as we fondly referred to him, was a man who made you sharpen your own ideas, compelling you to defend your positions with rigor and passion.”
Kenyatta said their eventual partnership through the Handshake defined Odinga as a leader guided not by personal ambition but by a genuine desire to unite the country. “I saw first-hand his unwavering passion for this country, his deep-seated belief in justice, and his incredible capacity to think beyond personal ambition for the sake of national peace,” he said.
The former president said he would remember Odinga for his strength of conviction, intellect and commitment to the ideals of democracy and justice. “I have lost a friend and a brother. I will miss our conversations – sometimes challenging, always insightful – and the fire of belief that never left his eyes,” he added.
Odinga died October 15, 2025, while receiving treatment at Devamatha Hospital in Kerala, India. The remains of the former prime minister were flown to Kenya on Thursday, October 16, and he was accorded a state funeral.
The conferment of Kenya’s highest honor on Odinga represents official recognition of his decades-long struggle for democratic reforms and social justice. Though he never succeeded in five campaigns for president, Odinga entered into political agreements with three of Kenya’s five presidents when tensions rose after elections.
The awarding of the CGH honor came during Mashujaa Day celebrations, Kenya’s annual holiday honoring national heroes. The timing underscored the government’s effort to memorialize Odinga’s contributions to the nation’s democratic development.
Odinga’s funeral week was marked by both celebration of his legacy and tragedy, with at least five people killed and hundreds injured in stampedes during public viewings as massive crowds overwhelmed security measures.
