White Priest Once Denied Raila Odinga Baptism Over His Name — Bishop Kodia Reveals

The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Bondo Diocese Bishop, Rev. David Hillington Kodia, has revealed that the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was once denied baptism by a white priest because he did not have a Christian name.

Speaking on Sunday, October 19, during Raila’s funeral service at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) in Bondo, Siaya County, Bishop Kodia said the incident occurred when Raila’s father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, insisted that his son be named Raila Amolo Odinga instead of adopting a Western or biblical name such as John or David.

“I want to tell the whole world, Raila was a faithful member of the Anglican Church. He was baptized under controversial circumstances. A white priest refused to baptize him because his father chose the name Raila Amolo Odinga instead of John or David or something else.
Due to the intervention from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Raila was baptized in the Anglican Church,” Bishop Kodia said.

The bishop further revealed that it took Raila many years before he was confirmed as a full member of the church. His confirmation came after a visit to the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

“Before he died, it took him long before he was confirmed. He went to Canterbury and paid a visit to Archbishop Justin Welby, and he was confirmed as a full member of the Anglican Church and given the rights to take the Holy Communion,” he added.

Bishop Kodia described Raila as a devoted member of the Bondo Diocese and Nyamira Parish, saying his death was a major loss to the church.
“Raila Odinga was a faithful member of this diocese and was also a member of the Nyamira Parish. Even that church is feeling the great loss because of the enormous presence of Raila’s family in that church, which now is going to be minus one,” he said.

The funeral service was attended by President William Ruto, retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, among other dignitaries including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, governors, senators, MPs, and senior government officials.

Raila Odinga will be laid to rest at the Kang’o ka Jaramogi mausoleum beside his late father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and his son, Fidel Odinga. The burial will be a private ceremony with only 500 guests allowed at the gravesite.

Raila died on Wednesday, October 15, while undergoing treatment in India after suffering a cardiac arrest during a morning walk at an Ayurvedic treatment facility.