Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka has paid a glowing tribute to the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, dedicating this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations to him and describing him as the embodiment of Kenya’s enduring spirit of resilience and sacrifice.
In a heartfelt message released on Monday morning, Kalonzo said Raila’s courage, determination, and lifelong fight for justice had elevated him among Kenya’s greatest heroes.
“Today I join many Kenyans in dedicating this Mashujaa Day to my brother and dear friend who has taken his final bow, our second Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Your sacrifices, Baba, will not be forgotten. You are and will always remain my hero, Kenya’s Shujaa,” Kalonzo wrote.
The tribute came as Kenyans gathered at Ithooke Stadium in Kitui County for national Mashujaa Day celebrations. Traditionally observed on October 20, the day honors freedom fighters and other men and women who have shaped Kenya’s history. This year’s event, however, was marked by deep reflection following Raila’s passing.
Kalonzo remembered Raila as a man who defied adversity, enduring detention, torture, and political setbacks while never losing sight of his vision for a fair and democratic Kenya.
“Years of detention did not stop you. The torture chambers did not faze you. The agony of bungled and stolen elections did not crush you,” Kalonzo stated.
The two leaders shared a political journey spanning decades from the fight for multiparty democracy in the 1990s, to the 2010 Constitution, and campaigns for good governance.
Raila Odinga, who died at 80, was a towering figure in Kenya’s democratic struggle. Though he never became president, his influence on governance, reform, and civic freedoms remains unmatched.
As the nation marked Mashujaa Day, Kalonzo’s message echoed the sentiment of millions who see Raila not just as a politician, but as Kenya’s eternal hero a symbol of courage, unity, and hope.
