The late Raila Odinga’s family, through the Raila Odinga Secretariat, has appointed university don Prof. Adams Oloo to coordinate events marking the one-year anniversary of his death, beginning October 15.

In a statement released on Sunday evening, the family was categorical that the anniversary events will not belong to an individual or an institution, but to everyone whose life Baba touched.

The statement, also shared via the late Raila Odinga’s Facebook page, which has largely remained dormant since his death, said the family is aware that many of Baba’s supporters did not get the opportunity to mourn him or say goodbye in the way they would have wished following his death.

“We also understand that, in the days following his passing, many of Baba’s people did not get the opportunity to mourn him in the way they would have wished. Many did not get the chance to say goodbye. As his family, that matters deeply to us,” the statement read.

It explained that this is why it appointed Prof. Adams Oloo to coordinate the events and develop a programme that allows all interested parties to participate fully.

The statement comes just days after the ODM Party announced a series of activities to mark Odinga’s anniversary in October under the rallying call “Mwezi wa Baba.” Under ODM’s programme, a candle-lighting ceremony will be held on October 2 to mark the beginning of the events. The party has also organised a memorial rally in Kakamega on October 9, bringing together all five Western counties.

The events will then shift to Bondo, where the family will take charge between October 10 and 15. A memorial rally targeting the North Eastern counties has been planned for October 17, followed by memorial activities at the Coast between October 18 and 19.

There will be a break for Mashujaa Day, before events resume in Kajiado on October 21, then move to Turkana between October 23 and 25. ODM plans to crown off the events with a major rally on October 31.

However, the Raila Odinga family’s statement appears to be a response to this programme, which seemingly frames the anniversary events as an ODM affair rather than a nationwide opportunity for everyone touched by Raila’s legacy.

“We want to assure everyone: Baba’s people will not be left behind. There will be room for those who walked with him — from every community, every generation, every part of the country, and every chapter of his life,” part of the statement read.

The family has asked for patience from all those who wish to be part of the anniversary celebrations as it finalises the arrangements.

Raila Odinga died in India on the morning of October 15 and was laid to rest on October 19 at the family home in Kang’o ka Jaramogi. The government has taken over his gravesite, with hopes of completing construction of a Ksh 30 million mausoleum by October 15.

                                                                                                      APERIT FM, HII NI YETU