Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has paid an emotional tribute to the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, calling him the true Kenya’s Shujaa.
In atatement released on Monday morning, Kalonzo said Raila’s courage and commitment to justice had earned him a place among Kenya’s greatest heroes.
“This Mashujaa Day, I dedicate our celebrations to my brother and friend, the late Raila Odinga. Your courage, sacrifices, and love for Kenya will never be forgotten. You will always be my hero, Kenya’s Shujaa,” he said.
Kalonzo’s message came as Kenyans gathered at Ithooke Stadium in Kitui Country for this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations, which took on a somber tone following Raila’s passing. The day, normally marked by joy and celebration of the nation’s heroes, was instead filled with reflection on the life of a man whose influence shaped the country’s political journey.
Kalonzo described Raila as a leader who refused to give up, despite years of detention, political persecution, and repeated electoral frustrations.
“Neither detention nor torture broke you. Even in defeat, you stood firm for what you believed in,” he said.
The Wiper leader noted that Raila’s legacy was defined by his actions rather than his words — a lifetime spent standing up for democracy, equality, and the rule of aw.
The two men shared a long political journey that stretched back to the early 1990s, when they joined hands in the struggle for multiparty democracy. They would later work together in campaigns for constitutional reform and better governance.
Kalonzo said Raila’s dream was for a fair and just Kenya, where every citizen would be treated with dignity regardless of their background.
“Raila believed in a country where justice and equality were not privileges but rights. That dream must live on,” he said.
Raila Odinga, who died at the age of 80, was a central figure in Kenya’s political history. From long periods of detention during the Moi regime to five presidential campaigns, he remained a symbol of endurance and courage.
Although he never became president, his influence on Kenya’s democracy, governance, and civil liberties is deeply felt across generations.
At the Mashujaa Day celebrations, songs, flags, and speeches carried a tone of remembrance as Kenyans honored a man many regard as the people’s hero.
