Ruto awards Raila Odinga Kenya’s highest honour
President William Ruto awarded the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H), the highest honour in Kenya.
The honour was conferred Monday, as the country marked Mashujaa Day.
A gazette notice dated October 20, 2025, confirmed the conferment of the First Class C.G.H honour to Odinga, recognising him for exemplified courage, endurance, dedication, an unwavering commitment to the ideals of democracy and good governance, sacrifice, Pan-Africanism and faithful service to all of humanity.
In his address to Kenyans at Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui, Ruto recognised Odinga for his contribution to nation-building and an enduring legacy.
“The Government and people of Kenya inscribe Hon Raila Odinga’s name among the foremost of our heroes, under the public seal of the Republic,” said Ruto.
He further described the former Prime Minister as a towering patriot and hero for the ages.
“But if we, the people he so deeply loved and served, choose to live by the lessons he taught us, to love Kenya more than we love ourselves, to put unity above division; to aspire for greater, and to serve with courage and conviction, then we can become a great nation of 50 million heroes,” said Ruto.
“The first lesson that Baba taught us is to put country above self.”
“Time and again, he reminded us that no disagreement is greater than our unity, no ambition more important than our peace, and no personal interest higher than the welfare of our nation,” he said.
“He famously declared that he would shake the hands of his rivals whether he won or whether he lost because he loved Kenya more than he loved Raila Amolo Odinga. That was the measure of a great man.”
The conferment comes a day after the former Prime Minister was laid to rest at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County.
To Raila Odinga, there was no place on earth more worthy of devotion, no people more deserving of faith, and no dream more noble than the Kenyan dream, he said.
Odinga died on October 15, 2025, while receiving treatment at Devamatha Hospital in Kerala, India.
The remains of the former Prime Minister were flown to Kenya on Thursday, October 16, 2025 and he was accorded a state funeral at his home on October 19, 2025.