Siaya Governor James Orengo has recalled the shock and disbelief that followed the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, admitting that he had never imagined losing the veteran opposition leader so suddenly.
Speaking during an interview on Wednesday, October 14, Orengo said Raila’s death left him struggling to process the loss, particularly because he believed the former prime minister still had a chance to lead Kenya as president.
“I was not ready for it [Raila’s death], I was shocked and lost for words and feelings. One of the things that kept on coming to my mind was that Raila should be able to give the presidency one more last time and he didn’t rule out the idea,” Orengo said.
The governor’s remarks come as Kenyans mark the first anniversary of Raila’s death on Thursday, October 15, 2026, with family members, political leaders and supporters expected to gather at Migwena Grounds in Bondo, Siaya County, to honour his legacy.
Raila, who died on October 15, 2025, was one of Kenya’s most influential political figures, having spent decades in public service and repeatedly contested the presidency without securing victory.
Orengo, a longtime ally of the former prime minister, said Raila’s enduring political presence had made it difficult for those close to him to imagine a future without him.
“Unfortunately, we kind of believed that Raila would never die, I mean he looked like he would be there forever,” he said.
The governor also drew parallels between Raila’s death and that of his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first Vice President, noting that both losses appeared sudden despite occurring in hospital settings.
“His death was almost as sudden as his father’s [Jaramogi Odinga Oginga] because his father, to me, also died in similar circumstances in a hospital but without any signs that he was going to pass on,” Orengo added.
Raila’s death marked the end of an era in Kenyan politics, leaving questions about the future of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the political movement he built over several decades.
His first anniversary provides an opportunity for supporters and political allies to reflect on his contribution to Kenya’s multiparty democracy, his pursuit of electoral reforms and his repeated bids for the presidency.
The commemorations in Bondo are expected to bring together leaders and supporters to remember the former prime minister, whose political influence shaped the country’s public affairs for decades.