Lang’ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, has declared the entire month of October as ‘Raila Month’.
The lawmaker has invited members of the public to a public candle-lighting vigil at Uhuru Park in Nairobi. The memorial event is scheduled for Friday, 2nd October, to honour the memory of the late Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader, Baba Raila Amollo Odinga.
Uhuru Park Candle-Lighting Service
According to the official announcement, the gathering at Uhuru Park will begin in the afternoon and run late into the night. Attendees will assemble from 3:00 PM until midnight for the nine-hour memorial service.
Uhuru Park is a central recreational and public venue in Nairobi that has historically hosted major national assemblies and public commemorations.
In a social media statement published ahead of the event, Odiwuor outlined the purpose of the memorial gathering.
“This Friday, 2nd October, we will gather at Uhuru Park from 3:00 PM until midnight for a candle-lighting celebration in honour of our late party leader, Baba Raila Amollo Odinga,” Jalang’o said.
The Lang’ata MP urged people from across the capital and neighbouring regions to attend the memorial service in large numbers.
“Come all! Let us stand together in remembrance and solidarity.”
Month-Long Commemoration
The Uhuru Park vigil marks the beginning of a broader series of commemorative activities planned throughout October. Odiwuor stated that the full month will be dedicated to reflecting on the political legacy of the veteran opposition chief.
“The entire month of October is dedicated to Jakom as we come together to remember, honour, and celebrate his legacy. We are starting the month of October very strong!”
He added the Swahili declaration: “Mwezi wa Baba!”
In local political discourse, ‘Jakom’ is a Luo title meaning chairman, while ‘Baba’ was widely used by supporters to refer to the late party leader.
Political Background
Raila Amollo Odinga passed away on 15 October 2025. He served as the long-time leader of the ODM party and remained a central figure in Kenyan politics for more than three decades, contesting multiple presidential elections and serving as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013.
