Abdulswamad NassirFormer Prime Minister Raila Odinga is remembered every day. However, the anniversary of his death is when we are forced to fully confront the reality that he is no longer with us. It is something I have not found easy to come to terms with. This is a man who was loved by many across the country.
We welcome and fully support the commemoration. We look forward to Kenyans coming together to remember the day we lost our leader and reflect on the legacy he left behind.
As we mark the first anniversary of Raila’s passing, the central message should be Kenya First. If there is one lesson we learnt from Raila, it is the importance of putting the country before everything else. We must carry that lesson forward and recognise that politics is fluid. We may have divergent opinions and political interests, but Raila taught us the value of forgiveness, acceptance and appreciating the bigger picture of what he believed in.
For our party, the leadership lesson we draw from Raila is that we must go beyond talking about his legacy. We are now in government, and if we truly loved and believed in Raila, the best way to honour him is to practise what he taught us.
Being on the streets was only one element of his leadership. Speaking out on issues without fear or favour was another. Raila believed in standing up for the people, demanding accountability and pushing for changes that would improve the lives of ordinary Kenyans.
He also had a clear manifesto of what needed to be done to move this country forward. Our responsibility now is to implement that manifesto to the letter. We cannot continue invoking his name without translating his ideals into tangible outcomes for the people.
The anniversary should therefore not only be a moment of mourning, but also an opportunity for reflection and renewed commitment. We must ask ourselves whether we are living up to the principles he stood for and whether our actions reflect the Kenya he envisioned.
Ultimately, the greatest tribute we can pay Raila is to unite the country, serve the people and put Kenya first, just as he taught us.
Mombasa Governor and ODM deputy party leader spoke to the Star
