In around 2003/2004, as a young graduate, and tarmacking, I went to Bondo. Bondo is a far place from my home. I had gone to take my application for a TSC advertised job at Nyamira Girls…I hope it’s the school. I visited my college mate who was teaching in Maranda School. I also visited another colleague teaching at Nyamira Girls.

After I completed my rounds of visits at Nyamira, I deposited my application. Then, I curiously asked about the home of Ralla Odinga. My curiosity was born from the fact that Raila had led the Rainbow Coalition into defeating KANU.

At this time l hated KANU with a passion. The main reason was that when I joined university, graduate teachers were completing their studies. They were doing their last exams. They had an appointment letter to start their teaching career. KANU,  through minister for finance, Simon Nyachae discontinued this! Through the famous structural adjustment programs (SAPs), IMF and World Bank advised the government to stop direct employment. They also suggested considering retrenchment. Who like KANU?

One good thing about this country is the peace we enjoy. You can go anywhere, undertake your activities without any hindrance, and come back home safe. So when I asked about the home of Raila Odinga, I was directed to Kango ka Jaramogi Odinga Oginga. I was told that it was a throw away distance from Nyamira Girls. I walked peaceful through winding paths, remember I am saying paths! There was no good road direct to this home… I actually wondered whether I was going to the home of the first vice president of Kenya. But I soldered on. So I landed on a seemingly good road to the standards of the place. I was told that this would take me direct to the gate. Fortunately, a few meters away I saw a sign post. A piece of timber was supported by the vegetation around it. It leaned to one side. On it was written “Kango ka Jaramogi Odinga Oginga.” I thanked God that I had finally arrived!

But wait! I expected to get a very big gate…there was nothing. I expected to get a bungalow in the compound, there was nothing. I asked myself, “Am I in the right place?” The next asking I did was to the only human being in the compound.  Remember this is a home place of Raila Odinga. He was now a senior government official. The man who was behind the government of that day. The man answered that I had actually arrived and that I should relax… surely? No police officers, no crowds at the home…only one caretaker?

In the compound more surprises were still awaiting me. There were only three  houses. Two very tiny huts and a slightly modest house. The caretaker told me that the two were for Oburu and Raila while the modest house was for their father. The  Fourth structure, another small one, was what housed the grave of Jaramogi.

Because of disbelieve of what I was seeing I asked the caretaker to take me to the grave of Jaramogi. Inside the grave house there was a big symbol of a Lion at the head of the grave. I asked for the visitors book and signed the words “Rest in peace… you were a great man.” I excused myself and left the compound,  still in disbelieve.

What am I saying? Is it that the family of Jaramogi not afford a decent rural home? Is it that they were very mean even to themselves as people purport? I don’t think so. This family took most of their time thinking about Kenya. Even if they were mean, how about the students Jaramogi airlifted for studies abroad? How about the Kenyans that have been helped by this family. These people have easily built up a decent house for Jaramogi…

Raila Odinga and the father were really selfless people. They cared more for the well being of the country than material accumulation of wealth. They were ready to forgive, forget and move on. They never held grudge against those who tormented them. This is a family that took little time to think of themselves.
Fare thee well Baba. We will miss you. We will miss your vision of the country you wanted for us.