Bishop Kodia reveals the key intervention that secured Raila’s Anglican baptism

The ACK Diocese of Bondo’s Bishop David Hellingtone Kodia has narrated the remarkable journey of late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga within the Anglican Church, revealing the circumstances surrounding his baptism, confirmation, and lifelong devotion.

Speaking during his burial on Sunday, October 19, 2025, Bishop Kodia began by noting the profound loss the diocese and parish feel at the passing of Odinga, describing it as one of the gravest moments for the Diocese of Bondo.

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Also watch: Raila Odinga’s funeral service and burial in Bondo

He pointed out that the parish of St Peter’s Church in Nyamira, where Odinga was a faithful member, has been particularly affected by his death due to the prominent presence of the Odinga family within the church community.

“I want to welcome you to this service, which marks the final journey of our brother Raila Amolo Odinga. As a church, and more so as the Diocese of Bondo, we feel that this is the worst that has happened to us as a diocese, losing a person of the calibre of Raila Odinga. I am not going to preach today, but I will ask my brother, Bishop Joseph Otieno, who will come and preach to us,” he said.

Adding,

“Before that, I want to say that as we gather here and listen to the word of God, I want us to be positive enough to have a deeper revelation of the message God has for us today. Let us look unto ourselves and see how we can also mirror or reflect the message that the servant of God is going to share with us. Raila Odinga was a member of this diocese and also a member of this parish, the parish of Nyamira St Peter’s Church, where he was a faithful member. That church is feeling this loss in a great way because of the enormous presence of Raila Odinga’s family, which is now going to be one less.”

Controversial baptism

The bishop revealed that Raila Odinga’s baptism had been marked by controversy.

He narrated that a priest had initially refused to baptise him because his father had chosen the name “Raila Amolo Odinga” rather than an English name, which was considered unconventional at the time.

Also watch: Bishop Kodia condemns corrupt leaders, praises Raila’s integrity

Bishop Kodia explained that it was the intervention of the Archbishop of Canterbury that ultimately enabled Odinga’s baptism, ensuring that he could fully join the Anglican Church despite these early obstacles.

“I want to tell the whole world that Raila was a faithful member of the Anglican Church. He was baptised under controversial circumstances when a white priest refused to baptise him because his father chose the name Raila Amolo Odinga instead of an English name. Due to the intervention of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Raila was baptised in the Anglican Church,” Kodia shared.

He further narrated that even before he was confirmed, Odinga maintained a close connection with Canterbury, returning on several occasions to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

It was during these visits that he was formally confirmed as a full member of the Anglican Church and granted the right to receive Holy Communion.

“Even before he was confirmed, he sometimes went back to Canterbury and paid visits to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. He was confirmed there as a full member of the Anglican Church and even accorded the right to take Holy Communion,” Kodia said.

Bishop Kodia highlighted that his first Holy Communion in his home parish at St Peter’s Church came only after this confirmation, marking a deeply significant spiritual milestone in his life.

“The last time we had a service at St Peter’s Church, that was the first time he took Holy Communion in his own church after confirmation. We are giving him a full Christian burial, and I wanted the whole world to know that bit.”