Kitui, October 20, 2025 — President William Ruto has posthumously awarded the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (C.G.H), the nation’s highest civilian honour, in recognition of his decades of selfless service, sacrifice, and commitment to democracy.
The honour was conferred during this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations held at Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui County, a national event dedicated to recognizing Kenya’s heroes and heroines.
A gazette notice dated October 20, 2025, confirmed the conferment, describing Raila as a statesman whose life’s work embodied courage, endurance, and devotion to the ideals of freedom, good governance, and Pan-African solidarity.
“Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga is recognised for exemplified courage, endurance, dedication, unwavering commitment to the ideals of democracy and good governance, sacrifice, Pan-Africanism, and faithful service to all humanity,” the notice read in part.
In his Mashujaa Day address, President Ruto paid glowing tribute to the late opposition leader, describing him as “a towering patriot and hero for the ages.” The President said Raila’s name would forever be inscribed among Kenya’s greatest nation-builders.
“The Government and people of Kenya inscribe Hon. Raila Odinga’s name among the foremost of our heroes, under the public seal of the Republic,” Ruto declared to a cheering crowd.
The Head of State urged Kenyans to emulate Raila’s values of unity, courage, and patriotism, saying his life’s lessons should serve as a guide for future generations.
“If we, the people he so deeply loved and served, choose to live by the lessons he taught us — to love Kenya more than we love ourselves, to put unity above division, to aspire for greater, and to serve with courage and conviction — then we can become a great nation of 50 million heroes,” said President Ruto.
The award adds to Raila’s long list of national and international recognitions. A veteran of Kenya’s struggle for multiparty democracy, he endured years of detention, political persecution, and controversy while championing reforms that reshaped the nation’s political landscape.
Raila’s contribution to the 1990s democracy movement, the 2002 political transition, and the 2010 Constitution remains pivotal to Kenya’s modern history. Even in opposition, his campaigns against corruption and electoral malpractice cemented his place as a fearless advocate for justice and inclusivity.
The Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H.) is the highest decoration in Kenya’s honours system, typically reserved for sitting Presidents, distinguished heads of state, and exceptional citizens who have rendered monumental service to the nation. Raila now joins a select group of Kenyan leaders who have received the award posthumously.
The conferment comes just a day after Raila was laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, Bondo, Siaya County, where thousands gathered to pay their final respects. His burial on Sunday marked the culmination of a week of national mourning and elaborate state ceremonies.
Raila Odinga died on October 15, 2025, while undergoing treatment at Devamatha Hospital in Kerala, India. His remains were flown back to Kenya on October 16, where he was accorded full state honours upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
President Ruto led top government officials, dignitaries, and international guests in honouring the man widely regarded as Kenya’s “father of modern democracy.” The President’s decision to bestow the C.G.H. honour posthumously has been hailed by many as a gesture of reconciliation and national unity, bridging decades of political rivalry between the two leaders.
For many Kenyans, the award symbolizes closure to an era defined by Raila’s relentless pursuit of justice and equality. As the nation continues to reflect on his legacy, the honour serves as both a tribute and a challenge — to live up to the ideals that Raila Odinga spent a lifetime defending.
