Safina Party leader Jimi Wanjigi paid a moving tribute to the late Raila Odinga during the burial ceremony in Bondo, describing him as both a political icon and a brother whose courage shaped the nation’s destiny.
“Today, I am in Bondo to lay to rest my friend and brother, Raila Odinga. My heart is heavy with sadness. What breaks me most is the finality of losing someone who was not just a mentor and leader, but truly a brother to me,” Wanjigi said.
Their bond, he recalled, stretched back more than three decades, forged in the fires of political struggle, democracy movements, and reform battles that reshaped Kenya’s political landscape.
Wanjigi worked closely with Odinga during the 2013 and 2017 elections, serving as a key strategist and financier in efforts to push for electoral justice and economic inclusivity.
In recent years, Wanjigi had faced political intimidation and isolation for his open allegiance to Odinga.
He was repeatedly targeted by state agencies, his businesses scrutinized, and his political ambitions frustrated after he refused to abandon Raila’s camp during moments of heightened tension within the opposition.
“They tried to break me because I stood by him,” Wanjigi noted quietly. “But friendship and loyalty are not things you trade for comfort or convenience. Raila taught me that principle, that conviction is the price of freedom.”
He described Raila as a man of unmatched resilience and moral clarity. “For over three decades, my bond with him was built on friendship, shared ideals, and a deep commitment to the rights and freedoms of all Kenyans.”
“This is a solemn day, yet one filled with gratitude for the privilege of having known him and walked beside him through history. It’s hard to say goodbye to a friend like you, Baba. Your legacy will live on in all of us. Rest in peace, my brother.”
