Wajackoyah: Raila left me an orphan, I was holding onto him
By William Muthama, October 18, 2025George Wajackoyah, the Roots Party leader, opened up about his deep personal loss following the death of former Prime Minister and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Speaking during a visit to Raila’s ancestral home in Bondo on Saturday, October 18, 2025, Wajackoyah described the late opposition icon as a father figure and mentor whose guidance shaped much of his life.
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“I know we are all going to die. What I’m telling the world is, we should know that our final destination is that. So he’s left me as an orphan. I was holding on to him. I was learning from him. Everything that you see about me is from Raila and Raila’s father,” Wajackoyah said.
“I don’t know how we are going to fill in that gap. Raila’s shoes are too big to fill, and I cannot even move near there because they are big shoes.”
Wajackoyah praised Raila for his integrity, honesty, and generosity, highlighting how the late leader treated even his critics with respect.
“He is a man of honesty, he has integrity, and he loves his enemies. There are those who abuse him and call him names, and at the end of the day, you see him laughing with them, embracing them, and even appointing them to be part of him. That is one thing I’ve learned from him,” Wajackoyah added.
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He urged political actors and supporters to focus on constructive engagement rather than insults or attacks, a principle he plans to uphold within his party ahead of the 2027 elections.
“I’ve instructed those who believe in me, those who believe in what we do, not to abuse Ruto, not to abuse Raila, not to abuse Gachagua, but to impress each other. We need to tell Kenyans what we can do for them, collectively, not just individually,” Wajackoyah said.
The Roots Party leader’s visit coincided with nationwide mourning as Raila’s body undergoes public viewing in Kisumu and prepares for burial at his family’s ancestral home in Bondo on Sunday, October 19, 2025.