Silas Jakakimba: How Raila Odinga arranged my secret exile in 2014
By Nancy Marende, October 28, 2025Lawyer and political strategist Silas Jakakimba has revealed previously unknown details about how ODM leader Raila Odinga secretly arranged his exile from Kenya during a politically tense period in 2014.
In a statement on Monday, October 27, 2025, Jakakimba recounted what he termed the “Baba While You Were Away” period , the three months Raila Odinga spent on a sabbatical in Boston, United States.
Also Watch: Willis Otieno calls out politicians claiming to have spoken to Raila before his death
According to him, it was during this time that Odinga organized his urgent departure from Kenya for his safety.
“APRIL 2ND, 2014 – BOSTON, UNITED STATES: The ‘Baba While You Were Away’ period. He was on a three-month sabbatical. In consultation with some of his global networks, Jakom had just organised for my urgent exit from Motherland Kenya,” Jakakimba wrote.
He revealed that he left Kenya six days after Raila’s departure, under what he described as a self-imposed exile, a move known only to a handful of trusted individuals close to the ODM leader.
“When he left for Boston, I followed him six days later on self-exile — only known to Baba himself, Min Piny, Winnie Odinga, Dennis Onyango, Dr Mohamed Isahakia, George Oduor, The Rotarian, and one person from my own family,” he disclosed.
Jakakimba said that after spending some time in the United States, he found it increasingly difficult to stay there and sought Raila’s advice about relocating to a country closer to home where his family could easily visit him.
“I told PM that staying in the United States at the time was becoming untenable for me. I wanted to be closer to home in a country where my close family could easily visit and check on me,” he said.
Raila, he added, gave him the freedom to choose between Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg, and he ultimately settled in South Africa, where he pursued studies and work.
“He agreed with me, asked me to make a choice, and I told him, Dar es Salaam or Johannesburg. This is why I was missing in action on the very date of his return – the Triumphant Return,” he explained.
Jakakimba said he remained in South Africa for several years until Raila informed him that the political environment in Kenya had improved and it was safe for him to return.
“I later ended up in South Africa, got very busy there with studies and work, until he told me he had positive and credible information that the environment had changed for the better, and I could return, so we could continue with the course of deepening democracy and pushing for good governance back home. Jakom, okotimore maber ,but as I’ve always said, your legacy sits comfortably on the continental table,” he concluded.