Kenya to Archive Global Condolences Honouring Raila Odinga

The Government of Kenya has announced plans to permanently preserve condolence messages received from around the world following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, in a move aimed at safeguarding his legacy for future generations.

Speaking on 30 January 2026 at the Odinga family home in Karen, Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dr Korir Sing’oei said that messages from governments, international organisations, institutions, and individuals have been compiled, bound into official volumes, and will be housed in key national repositories. These include the Kenya National Archives, the Kenya National Library Service, the Foreign Affairs Library, and the Foreign Affairs Gallery at Uhuru Gardens, where they will be accessible to researchers and the public.

“This compilation is intended for posterity for the family, the nation, and future generations,” Sing’oei said during the handover ceremony, presenting the volumes to Odinga’s widow, Mama Ida Odinga.

Highlighting Odinga’s global stature, the Principal Secretary noted that the tributes reflect his pivotal role in Kenya’s democratic journey and his influence across Africa and beyond. The messages, he said, speak to Odinga’s lifelong commitment to justice, democracy, and African solidarity, describing him as a leader whose ideals resonated internationally.

In a related initiative, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced plans to establish an annual Raila Odinga Conference, which will convene diplomats, scholars, and policy practitioners to discuss issues of democracy, governance, and diplomacy. Additionally, the government is ready to collaborate with the Odinga family to develop a museum at their ancestral home in Bondo, commemorating his life and legacy.

During the ceremony, Sing’oei also congratulated Mama Ida Odinga on her nomination as Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), headquartered in Nairobi. President William Ruto submitted her nomination on 23 January 2026, pending parliamentary approval. She is set to replace Ababu Namwamba, who has been reassigned as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda.

Sing’oei expressed gratitude to the diplomatic corps and international partners for their support during the period of national mourning, noting that the global condolence messages underscored the high regard in which Odinga was held.

The ceremony was attended by senior international representatives, including Zainab Hawa Bangura Secretary-General and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON); Eritrean Ambassador Beyene Russom; Ambassador Hazem Shabat of Palestine, Ambassador Josphat Maikara, former Minister Raphael Tuju, Presidential Advisor Professor Makau Mutua; and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.