Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has challenged Kenyans to examine whether the country has truly democratised power, warning that the struggle for democracy must go beyond competition for political office.
Speaking at the RAO2026 Memorial Conference at Daystar University’s Valley Road Campus in Nairobi on October 8, Nyong’o reflected on the intellectual and political legacy of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, calling for stronger institutions, practical African integration and economic dignity.
“Raila belonged to a generation for whom democracy was not an academic proposition, but a revolutionary undertaking,” Nyong’o said.
He urged Kenyans to move beyond celebrating Raila’s achievements and confront the unfinished business of democratic reform.
“A conference such as this one therefore, should not then stop at celebrating what we have achieved, it must also ask, what remains unresolved,” he said.
Nyong’o challenged the country to distinguish between democratising power and merely widening the competition for political office, posing a question he said Raila would have insisted on confronting.
“If Raila were here today, he’d definitely pose this question and seek that it be discussed in all honesty: have we democratized power or have we just tried to democratize competition to possess power?” he asked.
The governor said Raila’s legacy should be understood not merely through his political victories and defeats, but through the unfinished struggle to build institutions that serve citizens, deepen accountability and deliver meaningful economic opportunities.
He called for a renewed commitment to democratic governance, stronger public institutions and African integration that translates into tangible benefits for ordinary people.
Raila’s daughter, Rosemary Odinga presented her mother, Ambassador Dr Ida Betty Odinga, at the conference as keynote speaker, reflecting on her father’s life, legacy and enduring impact.
“His unwavering dedication to democracy, justice, and the people of Kenya remains a timeless inspiration to generations,” Rosemary said.
She added that although her father was gone, his ideals, courage and vision for a better Kenya would continue to live in the hearts of Kenyans and in the country’s history.
The memorial conference brought together discussions on Raila’s contribution to Kenya’s democratic evolution and the responsibilities facing a new generation of leaders.
