Indian community proposes a Nairobi CBD statue to honour Raila Odinga
The Indian community in Nairobi has announced plans to honour the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga with a grand statue in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), describing him as a statesman who stood for unity and justice.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, October 26, 2025, Parklands Highridge Member of County Assembly (MCA) Jayendra Malde said the community is ready to fully fund and construct the statue as a symbol of appreciation for Raila’s immense contribution to Kenya’s democracy.
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“We as the Indian community are ready to build BABA a big statue in CBD in his memory, provided the governor approves,” Malde, who served as Parklands Highridge MCA between 2017 and 2022, wrote.
Elsewhere, Turkana leaders paid emotional tribute to Raila Odinga, vowing loyalty to the ODM legacy.
The MCA added that the community will formally write to President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to request a site for the monument, which they said will serve as a lasting reminder of the late ODM leader’s legacy and the values he championed.
“Tomorrow we as the Indian community will send a formal letter to H.E William Ruto and H.E Sakaja to give us a site in CBD for BABA’s statue,” he stated.
Malde noted that Odinga’s leadership, sacrifice, and commitment to democracy touched many communities, including the Indian diaspora in Kenya, who viewed him as a unifying figure and a defender of social justice.
He said the proposed statue would not only honour Odinga’s memory but also symbolise Kenya’s diversity and the deep ties between communities that have coexisted peacefully for generations.
“The Indian community in Kenya has benefited from the peaceful and democratic environment that Baba helped shape. We believe a statue in the heart of Nairobi will remind future generations of the importance of selflessness, courage, and patriotism,” he said.
The proposal has sparked interest among city residents, with many saying the gesture reflects the high regard in which Odinga was held across different social and ethnic backgrounds.
If approved, the statue would become one of the most prominent monuments in Nairobi’s CBD, joining others like Tom Mboya that celebrate Kenya’s historical and political icons.
Raila Odinga died on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, while undergoing specialised treatment in India. He has since been laid to rest in his ancestral home in Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County.
