My biggest fear is to ever dissapoint him — Sifuna says as he visits Raila's gravesite

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has expressed deep sorrow and nostalgia for the late Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga following his first visit to the latter’s gravesite in Kang’o ka Jaramogi, Siaya County, since his burial six months ago.

Speaking during the emotional visit, Sifuna described the experience as both painful and reflective, noting that the absence of the veteran opposition figure continues to be felt across the political landscape and within the ODM party.

“It is my first time coming back here since we buried my boss, my friend, my mentor,” Sifuna said. “And as I have said before, it has been a difficult six months for all of us who knew Raila because a lot has happened since he left us.” 

The senator recalled a similar wave of emotions when he and other leaders visited Odinga’s Karen residence earlier this year to mark what would have been his birthday.

According to Sifuna, such moments have only served to underline the void left by the seasoned politician, widely known by his supporters as “Jakom.”

“I honestly miss my boss because Jakom was unlike anybody else we have ever had the opportunity to work under,” he said. “I was asking Babu Owino, if Mzee was alive we would be running around the country with him.”

Sifuna added that he still struggles to come to terms with Odinga’s absence, especially given the active political engagements they once shared.

“I just do not understand why he is not around to run around with us the way we used to do it,” he said.

Despite the grief, Sifuna maintained that the party remains committed to upholding Odinga’s legacy and ideals.

He acknowledged that the past six months have been challenging not only for ODM but also for Kenyans who believed in Odinga’s vision for the country.

“But everything happens for a reason. It has been a very difficult six months for the party, for everyone who believed in Mzee,” he said. “But I hope he is not disappointed with us wherever he is.”

Sifuna emphasised that ODM leaders have resolved to continue pursuing the goals championed by Raila, including the fight for democracy, good governance, and a citizen-centered government.

“There are certain promises we made to Raila-that we would continue with the fight he taught us. We want to live in a free country; we want to be in a country that puts its citizens first,” he stated.

Reflecting on Kenya’s political journey, Sifuna expressed frustration that many of the issues Odinga and his contemporaries fought for decades ago remain unresolved today.

“Just moving around the mausoleum, I saw a picture of my uncle and felt that it is very annoying that some of the things they were fighting for are the same things we are pushing for,” he said. “I thought every generation has its own fight-how is it possible that we are fighting the same fight that others fought in the 1990s for freedom and democracy?”

He warned that failure to achieve meaningful progress could burden future generations with the same struggles.

“If my nine-year-old will still be fighting for the freedom to post something on social media and just go home in 2050, we will not have achieved anything as a generation,” Sifuna said.