When former US President Barack Obama finally broke his silence on the passing of Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, his words struck a deeply emotional chord across Kenya and beyond. The condolence message came after a wave of public pressure from Kenyans online who demanded a response from one of the most globally recognizable sons of the country.
For three days after Odinga’s death, Obama’s social media posts on X (formerly Twitter) were flooded with thousands of replies from Kenyans, all echoing the same plea: “Talk about Raila,” “Eulogise him,” “Say something about our leader.”
The persistence of Kenyans online, who hijacked nearly every Obama post, from those about global democracy to book recommendations, became a moment of digital diplomacy that spoke volumes about Odinga’s influence and the expectations of a mourning nation. On Saturday morning, Obama shared a heartfelt message on X and other platforms, remembering Raila Odinga as “a true champion of democracy.”
“Raila endured decades of struggle and sacrifice for the broader cause of freedom and self-governance in Kenya,” Obama wrote. “Time and again, I personally saw him put the interests of his country ahead of his own ambitions. Like few other leaders anywhere, he was willing to choose the path of peaceful reconciliation without compromising his core values.”
He went on to describe Odinga as “an example not just for Kenyans, but across Africa and around the world.” Obama concluded his message by sending condolences to the Odinga family and the people of Kenya on behalf of himself and his wife, Michelle. Obama has ties with Kenya both personal and political. During his presidency, he visited Kenya in 2015, where he met with President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga. His father, Barack Obama Sr., hailed from Nyanza, the same region that Odinga dominated politically for decades.
For many Kenyans, Obama’s silence had felt deafening, almost like a gap in a global tribute chorus. Raila Odinga was not only a political titan but also a symbol of resilience, having endured imprisonment, exile, and repeated electoral defeats in pursuit of democracy. His death at 80 years old has left a nation grieving, and for a moment, even the most diplomatic of figures was drawn into the emotional tide.