In a poignant twist to Kenya’s political tapestry, President William Ruto has posthumously awarded Raila Odinga the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (CGH), elevating him alongside Kenya’s five presidents in a move that’s rippling through the nation’s heart.
The announcement, dropped during yesterday’s Mashujaa Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens, recognises Odinga’s lifelong fight for democracy as the ultimate “sixth pillar” of leadership, even as the country mourns the loss of its fiery opposition icon who passed last week at 80.
“Raila wasn’t just a contender; he was the soul of our struggle,” Ruto declared, his voice thick with emotion, as the crowd – a sea of orange Azimio flags and subdued cheers – absorbed the weight of this rare honour typically reserved for heads of state. Kenya’s five presidents – from Jomo Kenyatta’s nation-building era to Daniel arap Moi’s iron grip, Mwai Kibaki’s economic boom, Uhuru Kenyatta’s devolution dreams, and now Ruto’s hustler hustle – have each etched their mark on the constitution’s pages.
But Odinga? He’s the eternal bridesmaid turned posthumous bridegroom, his CGH gleaming as a first-class nod to the battles that reshaped the republic without ever claiming the top seat.
The gazette notice, signed by Ruto himself, cites Odinga’s “unwavering commitment to justice, from the 1982 coup echoes to the 2022 election firestorms.” It’s a bittersweet capstone: Odinga, who vied five times for the presidency, now symbolically joins the club, his legacy sealed in gold leaf.
The ceremony unfolded under a crisp autumn sky, with Mama Ngina Kenyatta and other first ladies in attendance, a rare show of unity. Ruto, flanked by Deputy Rigathi Gachagua, unveiled a plaque at the heroes’ corner, where Odinga’s name now rubs shoulders with the founding fathers.
Younger Kenyans, Gen Z trailblazers who rallied behind him in ’22, are flooding TikTok with remixes of his “Inaendelea” chants, turning grief into groove. But beneath the pomp lies a deeper narrative.
This CGH – Kenya’s loftiest civilian accolade, last bestowed on a non-president in decades – feels like Ruto’s olive branch after years of barbed-wire banter. Insiders whisper it paves the way for a national unity push, perhaps eyeing Odinga’s daughter Winnie as a bridge-builder in future coalitions. “It’s healing the house divided,” noted political analyst Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Citizen TV, linking it to ongoing talks on constitutional tweaks for term limits.
As Kenya reflects on its five presidents, plus this honorary sixth, the award shows a truth: true power often blooms in the shadows of the throne. Odinga’s journey – from detention cells to handshake accords – mirrors the republic’s own scars and stars.