Chief Justice Martha Koome delivered an emotional tribute on Saturday, November 1, when she led a delegation from the Judiciary to Bondo, Siaya County, to mourn the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The visit was part of a special condolence mission to honor Raila’s remarkable legacy and comfort his family.
The Chief Justice was accompanied by Supreme Court judges Justice William Ouko and Justice Njoki Ndung’u, who joined her in celebrating the life and contribution of the late opposition leader.
Speaking during the visit, Koome described Raila Odinga as a true statesman and patriot whose name would forever be written in the history of Kenya’s democracy.
Koome spoke with deep emotion as she praised Raila for his lifelong commitment to justice, freedom, and national unity.
According to her, the late Odinga was a towering figure whose sacrifices and courage helped keep Kenya united through some of its most challenging political moments.
She said that while many Kenyans remember Raila for the three major presidential election petitions he was involved in, his fight for democracy began long before those landmark cases.
“It is often forgotten that long before then, in the 1980s and 1990s, Hon. Raila was one of Kenya’s greatest champions for public interest justice,” Koome remarked.
“He helped shape the country’s early human rights laws and expanded the meaning of constitutional accountability.
His persistence forced the courts to confront the real meaning of liberty, legality, and justice,” she added, reflecting on Raila’s long struggle for a freer Kenya.
The Chief Justice went on to recall her personal encounter with the late leader during the repressive era of President Daniel arap Moi’s regime. She revealed that she once represented Raila in court in the late 1990s after he was detained without trial.
Koome emotionally recounted how she was only 26 years old at the time when Mama Ida Odinga approached her, pleading with her to take up Raila’s case.
“I was just 26 years old when Mama Ida came to me, asking me to represent her husband after he had spent years behind bars without trial,” Koome narrated.
“That experience gave me a firsthand understanding of Raila’s extraordinary courage, his unbreakable spirit, and his deep belief in freedom and justice.”
Koome also reflected on the many years she worked alongside Raila in the push for a new constitutional order and the widening of Kenya’s democratic space.
She remembered his strong voice in the struggle for reforms and his consistent belief that Kenya deserved a fairer and freer political system.
In her tribute, the Chief Justice described Raila Odinga as a man of deep conviction, one who always stood firm in his principles regardless of the cost.
She noted that Raila was more than just a political leader — he was a symbol of resilience and hope, deeply committed to constitutionalism, the rule of law, and democratic governance.
“Raila Odinga was not just a politician; he was a movement in himself,” Koome said passionately. “He inspired generations of Kenyans to believe that justice, equality, and democracy were worth fighting for. His legacy will continue to guide our nation for years to come.”
Koome’s visit to Bondo was filled with emotion and respect as she joined the Odinga family and local leaders in paying tribute to a man who, for decades, stood at the center of Kenya’s struggle for democracy.
Her heartfelt words reminded many of the deep connections and sacrifices made by those who fought to shape the nation into what it is today.
The Chief Justice concluded her speech by assuring the Odinga family that Raila’s memory and ideals would continue to inspire the Judiciary and the entire nation.
She emphasized that Kenya owes much of its democratic progress to leaders like him who chose courage over comfort and justice over silence.
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