Nairobi — President William Ruto has conferred the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga with the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (C.G.H.), the nation’s highest civilian distinction, in a posthumous tribute to one of the country’s most consequential leaders.
The honour — reserved for heads of state, eminent national figures, and those who have rendered exceptional service to Kenya — was formally announced through a gazette notice dated 20 October 2025, coinciding with the Mashujaa Day celebrations held just five days after Raila’s passing.
In the notice, President Ruto described Odinga as “a statesman of rare moral courage, a visionary patriot, a unifier of the people and a champion of justice.”
“In testimony whereof, and on behalf of an eternally grateful nation,” the President wrote, “I, William Samoei Ruto, PhD, C.G.H., President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 132(4)(c) of the Constitution, posthumously confer upon Rt Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya, First Class.”
A Fitting Recognition for a Lifetime of Service
The award caps a career that spanned more than four decades of political struggle, reform, and public service. Raila, who served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013, was at the centre of nearly every major turning point in Kenya’s modern political history — from the fight for multiparty democracy in the 1980s to the 2008 power-sharing deal that ended post-election violence.
His pursuit of national unity, often across deep political divides, earned him admiration even among his fiercest rivals. President Ruto, who once opposed him bitterly, praised Raila for his “selfless commitment to Kenya’s progress” during the Mashujaa Day address.
“Despite our differences,” Ruto said, “Raila Odinga’s contribution to our nation’s stability and unity is indelible. He gave his life to the pursuit of justice, democracy, and peace.”
A Legacy Among National Heroes
Raila’s recognition places him in the same revered circle as the late Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, and Wangari Maathai, all recipients of state funerals and national honours.
The former Prime Minister was buried on Sunday, 19 October 2025, at his family home in Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, Bondo, Siaya County, beside his father, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first vice president.
His funeral, attended by thousands of mourners and global dignitaries, marked the emotional end of an era.
A Statesman Remembered
The Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart — rarely awarded posthumously — is seen as the state’s ultimate recognition of a citizen’s contribution to Kenya’s national story.
For Raila Odinga, it symbolises a full-circle moment: from opposition leader and reform activist to a national hero honoured by the same state he once challenged.
As President Ruto put it, “Kenya’s democracy is richer, and our unity stronger, because Raila walked among us.”