Willis Otieno: Raila’s legacy should be honoured with an airport, not a stadium
By Cynthia Lodite, November 3, 2025Lawyer and political commentator Willis Otieno has come out demanding that the former prime minister, the late Raila Odinga’s legacy, be honoured by naming an airport after him instead of the proposed stadiums.
Taking to his official X account on Monday, November 3, 2025, the lawyer has differed with other leaders, begging that President William Ruto should rename Talanta Hela Stadium to Raila Odinga Stadium.
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On his part, Willis Otieono has argued that airports raise the honour of heroes as compared to stadiums.
Hence, proposing that Raila Odinga’s legacy be held through renaming the Kisumu International Airport to Raila Amollo Odinga International Airport.
‘The best way Kenya can honour Raila Odinga’s legacy forever is by renaming Kisumu International Airport to Raila Amollo Odinga International Airport and not a stadium. Airports raise the honour of heroes more than stadiums,” Willis Otieno.
Leaders appeal to Ruto.
Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga was among the first leaders to call for the renaming of the Talanta Stadium after former Prime Minister, the late Raila Odinga.
During the funeral service for the former PM in Bondo on Sunday, Wanga urged President William Ruto to honour Odinga’s love for sports by naming the 60,000-seater stadium after him.
“Our president, we only ask one more thing from you…that magnificent 60,000-seater stadium…we ask that it be renamed Raila Odinga Talanta Stadium,” Wanga said.
On the other hand, the Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament (MP), Peter Kaluma, has also been on record pressuring President William Ruto to rename the Talanata Hela Stadium to Raila Odinga Stadium.
Talking to X on Saturday morning, October 25, 2025, the Homa Bay Town MP said the purely football facility should be renamed after the late ODM leader upon completion. The stadium is in its final stages of completion ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations that will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Also, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei called for the same stadium in Nairobi to be renamed the “Raila Odinga Talanta Stadium” in tribute to the late former prime minister.
In addition, George Kaluma took the centre stage, asking the head of state to consider their request and honour the late Raila as the greatest sports fan Kenya has ever had.
“President William Ruto, please name this Raila Odinga Stadium Talanta–ROST in honour of the greatest sports fan Kenya has ever had,” Kaluma argued.