By Suleiman Mbatiah
Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry Lee Kinyanjui has mourned the late opposition leader Raila Odinga, recalling their first encounter during the 2022 election campaigns as the beginning of a friendship rooted in shared hopes for a united Kenya.
The former Nakuru Governor, who was among those interviewed to be Raila’s running mate ahead of the 2022 General Election, described the late ODM leader as a “pragmatic and dedicated statesman” who always envisioned the best for Kenya.
He revealed that he did not know Raila as a friend for a long time as for years, he was on the other side of the political divide, and their paths rarely crossed, until the last election in 2022.
“Then came a call from former President Uhuru Kenyatta, informing me that a friend was visiting Nakuru and should be received with the full honour and protocol of a state guest,” Kinyanjui said in a heartfelt message.
He said that encounter marked the start of a meaningful bond with Odinga, through which they shared “deep reflections about the country and the future that the next generation deserves.”
Kinyanjui praised Raila’s lifelong commitment to democracy and reconciliation, noting that his final years were defined by a genuine effort to unite the nation.
“Raila was a pragmatic and dedicated statesman who always saw the best in Kenya. In his final chapter, he devoted himself selflessly to healing the political wounds that have long divided us, and in many ways, he succeeded,” he said.
The former governor joined Kenyans in paying tribute to Odinga, calling him “Jakom,” a title of respect in Luo culture, and saluting his courage, conviction, and unwavering belief in a better Kenya.
Raila Odinga, who served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013, died on October 15, 2025, at the age of 80 while receiving treatment at Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic hospital in Koothattukulam, Kerala, India, for an undisclosed ailment.