The Odinga family appointed Prof. Adams Oloo to lead a committee that will plan commemorative activities the week of October 15, asking groups to route events through the committee to ensure a unified programme distinct from ODM’s month-long plans.
The family formed a committee chaired by Prof. Adams Oloo to coordinate Raila Odinga’s first death anniversary during the week of October 15.
Family says the commemoration will centre on ordinary Kenyans who supported Raila and must be organised through the family committee.
ODM has separately designated the entire month of October as Mwezi wa Baba with nationwide activities, creating parallel plans.
# What the family announced The family of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga said it has formed a committee to coordinate the first anniversary of his death. The committee is chaired by Professor Adams Oloo, described in the family statement as Raila's long-serving political adviser.
The family set the commemoration for the week of October 15. They said the committee is developing the programme and that details will be released in due course.
# Focus and rules for participation The family framed the anniversary as an occasion for ordinary Kenyans who supported Raila to remember, mourn, celebrate and honour their shared journey with him. They asked that anyone who wants to participate, support, or organise an activity for the anniversary do so through the appointed committee. The family gave two reasons for this request:
Movement (ODM) announced a separate programme that dedicates the entire month of October to honouring Raila under the slogan Mwezi wa Baba. ODM's schedule begins with a nationwide candlelight ceremony on October 2 and continues with rallies and activities across the country throughout October.
The family's announcement positions the week of October 15 as the period they will directly oversee, and the family explicitly said the anniversary should not be associated with any individual or institution.
# Practical implications for organisers and supporters Groups, political organisations, and individuals planning tribute events will need to decide whether to coordinate with the family committee or follow ODM's month-long calendar. The family's directive means that independent events that wish to be part of the official family commemoration should register or liaise with Prof. Oloo's committee.
Expect the committee to issue a detailed programme and coordination instructions ahead of the week of October 15. The family statement emphasised inclusivity across communities, generations and chapters of Raila's life.
# Why this matters now Two separate plans are public: a family-led week of events and a party-led month of activities. That overlap can create logistical and messaging confusion unless organisers agree on who is responsible for which events, and whether activities are meant to be family-endorsed commemorations or party-led tributes.
The family's call for central coordination is an attempt to present a single, unified family-endorsed commemoration while leaving room for others who walked with Raila to participate.
# What to watch for next
The family has signalled that it expects broad participation but wants events channelled through its committee to avoid fragmentation and to ensure the anniversary centres on the public who supported Raila.
The family of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has assured supporters that it is making appropriate preparations to commemorate the first anniversary of his death. To oversee the anniversary events, the family constituted a planning committee chaired by Prof. Adams Oloo to coordinate commemorative activities
[Capital FM] Nairobi -- Professor Adams Oloo has been appointed to chair a committee coordinating activities to mark the first anniversary of the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The announcement comes days after President William Ruto announced the late Raila Odinga will be amongst the 242 Kenyans to receive hero status during the Mashujaa Celebrations of October 20.
CHAMA cha ODM na familia ya aliyekuwa Waziri Mkuu Raila Odinga, wako katika mzozo mkali kuhusu mipango ya kuadhimisha mwaka mmoja tangu kifo chake. Taifa litaadhimisha mwaka mmoja tangu kifo cha Raila mnamo Oktoba 15. Raila alifariki siku hiyo baada ya kupata mshtuko wa moyo mjini Kochi, India. Katika taarifa iliyotole
Raila's anniversary is planned for the entire month of October with different activities by the family, committee, and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party
[Capital FM] Nairobi -- The family of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has hit back at retired President Uhuru Kenyatta after he renewed his claim that Raila won the 2022 presidential election.
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