Raila Odinga has offered a heartfelt tribute to former US President Jimmy Carter, praising his commitment to peace and diplomacy during and after his presidency.
His statement came as the world mourned the loss of Carter, who passed away at 100 leaving behind a legacy that spanned three centuries.
Raila reflected on Carter’s unique journey, describing him as a man who grew up in the segregated South and rose to become a champion of civil rights, women’s rights, human rights, and environmental conservation.
According to Raila, Carter embodied a leadership style rooted in humanity, humility, and a steadfast belief in nonviolence.
“Today, the world has lost America’s longest lived president who grew up in and shaped three centuries. Jimmy Carter grew up in a segregated 19th Century America South with its contradictions of freedom and racial discrimination. He lived to steer significant 20th century issues including civil rights, women’s rights, human rights, housing rights and environmental conservation,” Raila wrote on X on Monday December 30, 2024.
As president, Carter avoided military conflicts, choosing instead to broker peace and resolve international disputes.
Raila lauded Carter’s role in preventing wars in critical moments, including the peaceful transfer of the Panama Canal, the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, and efforts to secure the release of American hostages in Iran.
“Out of office and marching into the 21st century, Jimmy Carter applied himself fully to matters of conflict resolution, promotion of democracy abroad and sustainable development. By and large, his was a typical ordinary humanity story; an epic journey from Georgia as a barefoot farm boy to leadership of the world and winner of the Nobel Prize,” Raila said.
Raila also highlighted that Jimmy Carter was a steadfast advocate for peace, rejecting the militarism that has become commonplace today.
He noted that during Carter’s presidency, the United States did not engage in any wars, instead focusing on efforts to prevent conflicts in regions such as Panama, Israel, and Iran.
“Carter believed in and pursued peace minus the militarism that we have today accepted as the norm. Under his tenure as president, America never went to a single war around the globe. Instead, he helped the world avert potential wars in Panama, Israel, and Iran, among other places,” Raila said in his statement.
Beyond his time in office, Carter remained deeply committed to humanitarian efforts.
His work with The Carter Center addressed issues ranging from eradicating diseases to promoting democracy and mediating global conflicts.
Raila acknowledged that Carter did more for humanity while out of office than when he was president, an acknowledgment rarely afforded to political leaders.
“I join the world in mourning this remarkable leader who did more for humanity while out of office than when he was president,” Raila noted.
Several world leaders including President William Ruto have paid touching tributes to the 39th president of the United States.
