Siaya journalists whose careers were shaped by Raila hit hard by his death
By Eric Juma, October 18, 2025Siaya Journalist has termed the death of Raila Odinga a blow to their journalistic work, for they had bylines on the front page of the daily publication courtesy of his news.
The journalists said they were sure of their bylines appearing on the front page of the daily publications.
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Speaking on Saturday, October 18, 2025, led by ex-Star reporter Lameck Baraza, the journalists stated that Baba was a source and a newsmaker, and they would interact with him while attending funerals of his close friends and relatives.
“Most of us would tremble upon receiving calls from our bosses enquiring if we were aware of Raila’s presence in Siaya. We could seek his whereabouts through Peter Mbeka, Deputy Director of Protocol, and we were happy to give him coverage and were sure that his story would be prioritised,” he said.
“Raila was a father figure to me and, professionally, a good source of news. Whenever I attended his function, I would get a good story,” Baraza said.
“The fact that we are based at the grassroots, it was a privilege to attend Raila’s function whenever he visited his home, especially during funeral processions and the Christmas festive season, which he celebrated with his family at Kango Jaramogi.”
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Baraza said during festive seasons, new sources tend to reduce the appearance of Raila in Bondo to mingle with his people as the son of the soil and give New Year stories that would keep Kenyans hopeful for a better year.
“It was also a good time meeting Raila back home after traversing the country, and I would get good stories like, ‘Baba, while you were away.'”
Baraza said journalists also received Christmas and New Year gifts from Raila.
Isiah Gwingi
According to Standard correspondent Isaiah Gwingi, I have lost a lot as a journalist because, to me, Raila was a source and an inspiration.
“I started covering Raila around 2010; by then I had not joined Standard but was contributing to Nyanza weekly magazine.
He covered him when he presided over the launch of Kisumu International Airport, an event attended by former President Mwai Kibaki.
“In 2013, I had covered him when Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology was being awarded its university charter at a function attended by President Kibaki,” he stated.
“In August 2013, I joined Standard as a Correspondent in Siaya and had the opportunity to cover him regularly during weekends when he attended funerals in Siaya. Covering Raila was interesting; his silence and speeches made great news.”
“I don’t remember getting a byline on the front page apart from Raila’s function. I think around three consecutive weekends, my stories made the headlines. By then, we worked with Kisumu-based colleague Rushdie Oudia, who was a filler correspondent.”
“Anytime we were notified that Raila was attending a function in Siaya, he would join me to cover Raila. For all the years, covering Raila was interesting, and when I received news of his death, I lost a lot as a journalist. Raila is keen and observant, and he saved me from a police officer who had locked me at Jaramogi’s Museums, found at Kango Ka Jaramogi’s home.”
“As a reporter, I had gone to give Raila coverage when a guest visited him at Kango Ka Jaramogi, and when he (Raila) was walking his guests to see the Luo culture artefacts and photos of Jaramogi and his friends, a police officer blocked and locked me in one of the rooms but realised Raila was keen and monitored the happenings.
“He shouted at the officer and asked him to step aside and allow me to do my duty. Could have missed the best photos if Raila had not intervened.”
Lilian Osiema
Ex-Citizen TV reporter and a nominated MCA Lilian Osiema said that as a Luhya, Raila treated her as a spy when she was posted in Siaya in 2012 as a reporter for Citizen TV.
“At the beginning, being a Luhya covering Baba was not easy because he was delivering his speech in Luo, but as time went on, he would address us in English before shifting to Luo,” she said.
“He treated journalists so professionally, and I wanted to say I am one of the serious beneficiaries of Baba as a journalist. I never knew I would get into politics, but he picked me among the many journalists in Siaya and groomed me.”
“Raila had told me that she was a sharp girl who needed to get into politics. Had told him that politics is a dirty game, but he vowed to walk me through, and that’s how I landed the MCA nomination slot at Kakamega Assembly.
Osiema said Raila wanted to enlist her for the Senate slot, but she declined the offer because it was a higher level.
“He wanted to nominate me in Siaya but requested to be nominated at the Kakamega assembly, my home ground, and ended up as the MCA after Raila coordinated with ex-Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.”
“Personally, I have lost, and it’s heavy for some of us who have held hands with him for two terms in the Kakamega assembly. I want to plead with other leaders to help build the careers of persons close to you just as was done to me by Baba,” Osiema added.
Osiema, at the same time, uses their powers to chart their destiny, adding that journalism is a tool that enhances their growth.
“Let’s deviate from journalists for positive change and not use the tools at your disposal to bring down news sources at all times, because we also need to grow and give space for new generations.