Daystar University has announced an international memorial conference in honour of the late PM and ODM leader Raila Odinga, bringing together scholars, policymakers, political leaders and citizens to reflect on his contribution to democracy, national unity and social justice.
The three-day RAO2026 Memorial Conference, themed “Remembering Baba: Future-Proofing Democracy,” will take place in Nairobi from October 12 to 14 at the KICC.
Announcing the event, Daystar University Vice Chancellor Prof. Laban Ayiro on Tuesday said preparations are underway following consultations with Raila Odinga’s widow, Mama Ida Odinga.
“I am pleased to announce the upcoming RAO2026 Memorial Conference, ‘Remembering Baba,’ scheduled for 12–14 October 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi. As part of the preparations, I had the privilege of visiting Mama Ida Odinga for thoughtful consultations on this significant conference,” Ayiro said.
The Daystar University VC revealed the conference would provide a platform for scholars, leaders, policymakers and citizens to examine Raila Odinga’s extraordinary contribution to democracy, national unity, social justice and the transformation of Kenya and Africa.
“Daystar University is honoured to be associated with this historic undertaking as we preserve his legacy, interrogate his ideas and inspire future generations to pursue leadership founded on courage, sacrifice and service to humanity,” he added.
According to the organisers, RAO2026 Memorial aims to go beyond commemorating Raila Odinga’s political career by critically examining the ideas and reforms that defined his decades-long public life.
Discussions will explore his role in the struggle for multi-party democracy, constitutional reform, national reconciliation and Pan-African leadership.
The conference will be organised around three thematic pillars of Resilience, Adaptation and Opportunity, with sessions examining democratic governance, political communication, youth leadership, social justice, institutional reforms and Africa’s democratic future.
Participants will include academics, researchers, journalists, policymakers, civil society leaders and students from Kenya and abroad.
The programme will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, academic paper presentations, documentaries, exhibitions and oral histories documenting Raila Odinga’s political journey and legacy.
Organisers have invited scholars and practitioners to submit research papers aligned to the conference themes, with selected papers to be published in the conference proceedings and Daystar University’s academic journals.
The conference comes nearly a year after Raila Odinga’s death and is expected to be one of the most important academic and public reflections on the life of the veteran statesman, whose political career spanned more than four decades and played a defining role in Kenya’s democratic evolution.
