By The Weekly Vision Reporter
President William Ruto has posthumously bestowed the late ODM leader Raila Odinga with the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H.), the country’s highest civilian honour, traditionally reserved for heads of state, eminent public figures, and individuals who have rendered exceptional service to the nation or the world.
The honour comes just days after the President directed that Raila be accorded a State funeral with full military honours, saying the veteran opposition leader deserved such recognition as “the people’s president.”
In a special Kenya Gazette notice dated 20 October, President Ruto described Raila, who was a co-principal in his broad-based government, as “a statesman of rare moral courage, a visionary patriot, a unifier of the people and a champion of justice.”
“In testimony whereof, and on behalf of an eternally grateful nation, I, William Samoei Ruto, PhD, C.G.H., President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 132(4)(c) of the Constitution, posthumously confer upon Rt Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya, First Class – Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (C.G.H.),” the notice read.
The President reaffirmed the same during his address at the Mashujaa Day celebrations held at Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui.
Other non-Kenyan recipients of the honour include Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, Saudi businessman Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud, former New Zealand Prime Minister Mike Moore, the 53rd Da’i al-Mutlaq Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin of the Dawoodi Bohra community, and His Highness the Aga Khan IV and Aga Khan V.
While largely symbolic, the award signifies the country’s highest esteem and serves as a permanent record of one’s national legacy.
Raila Odinga has long been celebrated for his struggle, sacrifice, leadership, vision, and courage, a true son of the soil who never relented in his pursuit of a better Kenya.
Though he never succeeded in his five attempts to become president, his contribution to the return of multiparty democracy, which saw him become Kenya’s longest-serving political detainee, and his role in the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution remain defining hallmarks of his legacy. His advocacy for human rights, justice, and the devolution of power and resources from Nairobi to the counties continues to shape Kenya’s democratic journey.
