NAIROBI, Kenya – October 20, 2025 – In a momentous and historic gesture on Mashujaa Day, President William Ruto posthumously conferred the nation’s highest honour upon the late former Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga.
In a special issue of the Kenya Gazette published on Monday, the President awarded Odinga the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (C.G.H.), the First Class of the prestigious order. This places the late statesman among the foremost national heroes in the country’s history.
The gazette notice, signed by President Ruto, paints a poignant picture of Odinga’s legacy, describing him as “a Statesman of rare moral courage, a visionary patriot, a unifier of the people and a champion of justice whose name will forever be etched in the annals of our Republic.”
It further highlighted the “unprecedented outpouring of grief across the nation and beyond our borders” following his passing as a testament to his “enduring influence” and “extraordinary service.” The notice acknowledged the “profound affection” in which he is held by a “grateful municipal, regional, continental and global community.”
Acting under the powers granted by Article 132 (4) (c) of the Constitution, President Ruto stated that the award was made “on behalf of the Government and People of Kenya” in “reverent recognition” of Odinga’s contributions and the “bottomless debt of gratitude owed to him.”
The conferment of the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (First Class) is the highest recognition a Kenyan citizen can receive for outstanding service to the nation. By bestowing this honour upon Raila Odinga on a day dedicated to celebrating heroes, the nation has officially enshrined his legacy as a central pillar of Kenya’s modern history.
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