List of musicians who have honoured Raila’s legacy with new songs
By Steve Ireri, October 17, 2025Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who passed away on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in Kerala, India, after a cardiac arrest, continues to be mourned both in public ceremonies and through music.
In the days following his death, artistes from Kenya, Tanzania, and across the region have poured their grief and reverence into song, releasing heartfelt tributes that mirror the national mood.
Their melodies, filled with longing and remembrance, speak of a man whose name became a symbol of hope and resilience.
Here are some of the singers who have expressed their admiration through music.
Rayvanny
Tanzanian singer Raymond Mwakyusa, alias Rayvanny, since Raila died, has been mourning him through emotional social media posts where he recalled moments when their paths crossed.
His song, titled “Bye Bye Raila Odinga”, is woven with his trademark mellow rhythms and soulful harmonies, creating a tender musical farewell to the late statesman.
He wishes for the ODM leader to find peace in eternity and even appears as one who is about to cry in the music video teaser he shared on Instagram.
“Bye bye bye bye oh baba bye bye… bora machozi ya usoni yanaweza isha jioni ila machozi ya moyoni huchuruzika milele,” some of the lyrics say.
Christina Shusho
Gospel powerhouse Christina Shusho also paid homage to the late Raila through a heartfelt song titled “Pumzika Baba.”
The Swahili ballad reflects on the suddenness of his passing and his lifelong dedication to justice and humanity.
Shusho prays that Raila’s soul finds rest among the ancestors and repeats an emotional chorus asking heaven to receive him in peace.
She hails him as a father of democracy and a pillar of African liberation, vowing never to forget his contribution to the continent’s freedom struggles.
“Baba nenda wee. Mwana magezui wa Africa, mtetezi wa wanyonge. Africa inakulilia. Ulijitoa kwa ajili ya watu kwa ajili ya Kenya. Baba hatutasahau,” she sings.
Prince Indah
Ohangla sensation Evans Ochieng Owino, popularly known as Prince Indah, released a powerful Luo tribute titled “Wuod Oganda, Amolo 3 in 1” in honour of the fallen statesman.
The track, produced and released just hours after Raila’s passing, premiered at dawn in what Indah described as a spiritually guided hour, “before the Sun has risen, as directed by Juogi.”
The song opens with a soulful Ohangla rhythm, accompanied by chants praising Agwambo, Jakom, and Joshua, names long associated with Raila’s iconic legacy.
Indah celebrates him as the people’s president and the symbol of unbroken hope for generations, capturing the mood of collective grief across Luo Nyanza and the country at large.
King Kaka
Kenyan rapper King Kaka joined in mourning with a reflective track titled “Huu Wimbo Ni Wako Baba,” released on Thursday, October 16, 2025.
The song carries the emotional depth of a spoken word performance, fusing sorrow, admiration, and gratitude. King Kaka traces Raila’s lifelong struggle for freedom and democracy, describing him as the father of the nation’s political awakening.
The artiste recalls Raila’s imprisonment, torture, and years of political resistance, portraying him as a man who bore the pain of a nation yet remained steadfast.
“Huu wimbo ni wako Baba natarajia uko salama, nakumbuka ulivyokazana na sura yako itakumbuka. Baba democracy yaani umefuata nyayo,” King Kaka sings.
Through haunting verses, he laments how Kenya has lost its voice of reason and unity, mourning not only a leader but a symbol of resilience.
Mr Seed
Singer Mr Seed also honoured Raila with an emotional rendition built around one of the late leader’s favourite classics, “Farewell Jamaica.”
In the tribute, the track’s original melody gently plays before Mr Seed’s soulful voice blends in, pouring out raw grief.
He is seen in the video holding the microphone tightly, his body slightly bent forward as though overwhelmed by emotion.
His lyrics express disbelief and sorrow, as he grapples with words to describe the void left behind by Raila’s passing.
Bahati
No stranger to hopping on trending topics is Kenya’s own gospel-turned-secular artiste Bahati, whose song for Raila is titled “Bye Bye.”
In the song, Bahati returns to his earlier gospel-inspired sweet singing style that defined his early career when he was still a born-again artiste.
He sings about being full of tears and describes Raila’s death as a wound that refuses to heal.
Bahati speaks of losing a parent figure and briefly mentions how he too has no parents of his own.
“Machozi mama ee, machozi skiza papa ee. Donda chungu naumia. Machozi machungu nafuta hakuna vile ningeficha,” he sings.
Vinny Flava
YouTuber Vinny Flava, who recently trended after his long-time girlfriend broke up with him, also released a song in honour of the late ODM leader.
Flava blends Dholuo and Swahili lyrics as he wishes Raila peace in eternity.
“Raila Odinga Aguambo enda salama. Erokamano baba, enda salama,” he sings, in a song that resonates with the sincerity of a younger generation mourning a leader they admired as a father figure.