‘He Was a Good Cook and Always Number One in Class,’ Senator Oburu Odinga Remembers His Brother Raila Odinga

Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga has paid a moving tribute to his younger brother, the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, recalling his brilliance, discipline, and warmth long before he became a political icon.

Speaking at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday during the national memorial service, Oburu shared childhood memories that painted a deeply personal picture of Raila as not just a leader, but a loving brother, an excellent student, and even a skilled cook.

“He was a good cook. And he was always number one in class,” Oburu said, drawing laughter and admiration from the thousands who had gathered to celebrate Raila’s life. “He was more than a brother. He was my advisor and confidant. He was everything.”

The Senator revealed that Raila’s passing came on a day of deep personal meaning for him. “Unfortunately, he passed on my birthday — October 15, 1943,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion. The crowd fell silent, sharing in his grief as he spoke about a bond that stretched back decades.

Oburu reflected on their early years under the care of their parents, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Mama Mary Odinga, recalling a home that valued hard work and humility. “Our grandmother told us, ‘You my boys are also my girls,’” he said. “We had to learn how to fetch firewood, cook, and prepare everything, including washing clothes and ironing. Raila was best in all of those things.”

He said their mother was a stricter disciplinarian than their father, shaping them into responsible and independent young men. The audience laughed warmly as Oburu described their chores, especially Raila’s mastery of cooking.

“The other thing Raila was best at was in class,” he continued. “I was average. I could be number five, four, or three sometimes. But Raila was always number one.”

Oburu also reminisced about their love for sports, saying both brothers were active athletes during their school days. “Raila was also a sportsman,” he said. “He used to triple jump, play football, and do pole vault. But I was better than him in jumping and pole vault!” he added, sparking laughter across the stadium.

He went on to describe Raila as a man who loved justice from an early age and had an insatiable curiosity about the world. “He loved to hear news. One day, he was late to school, and when the teacher asked why, he said, ‘I was still listening to the radio. I wanted to hear the news.’ And he was only in Standard Four,” Oburu said.

The Senator said his brother’s deep sense of justice and honesty defined his character from childhood to adulthood.

“Raila was known as a no-nonsense man,” he said. “He entertained no mediocrity. If you came across him with lies or mediocrity, his left hand was very fast — he would give you something to teach you a lesson that you must always be truthful.”