NAIROBI, Kenya—Jan 31, 2026—Kenyan Government has announced plans to permanently archive condolence messages received from across the world following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, underscoring his stature as a global symbol of democracy, justice, and dialogue.
Speaking on January 30, 2026, at the Odinga family home in Karen, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Dr Korir Sing’Oei said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received an unusually high number of condolence messages from sovereigns, international organisations, diplomatic missions, institutions, and individuals following Odinga’s passing on October 15, 2025.
“These messages continued to flow well beyond the burial period, reflecting not only sympathy to Kenya, but the deep global respect held for Raila Odinga as a statesman and international voice for justice and democracy,” Sing’Oei said.
The ministry has since collated and bound the messages into four official volumes, which were formally handed over to Mama Ida Odinga and the family on behalf of Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi.
Sing’Oei said additional copies will be preserved at the Kenya National Archives, Kenya National Library Service, the Foreign Affairs Library, and the Foreign Affairs Gallery at Uhuru Gardens, making them accessible to researchers and the public for posterity.
He noted that the tributes reflect Odinga’s pivotal role in Kenya’s democratic journey and his influence across Africa and beyond, describing him as a leader whose ideals resonated internationally.
In honour of the late Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced plans to establish an annual Raila Odinga Conference on Democracy and Diplomacy, which will bring together diplomats, scholars, and policy practitioners to deliberate on governance, democratic values, and international cooperation.
Additionally, the government will work with the Odinga family and development partners to support the establishment of a Memorial Museum at their ancestral home in Bondo, commemorating Odinga’s life and legacy.
During the ceremony, Sing’Oei congratulated Mama Ida Odinga on her nomination as Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), headquartered in Nairobi.
Her nomination, submitted by President William Ruto on January 23, 2026, is awaiting parliamentary approval. She is set to replace Ababu Namwamba, who has been reassigned as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda.
Sing’Oei also expressed gratitude to the diplomatic corps and international partners for their solidarity during the period of national mourning, saying the messages underscored the high esteem in which Odinga was held globally.
The ceremony was attended by senior international and national figures, including Zainab Hawa Bangura, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON); Ambassador Beyene Russom of Eritrea; Ambassador Hazem Shabat of Palestine; Ambassador Josphat Maikara; former Minister Raphael Tuju; Presidential Advisor Prof. Makau Mutua; and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
