Before his passing, Raila Odinga was deeply engaged in what would have been one of his most significant works a third biography centered on Pan-Africanism and the future of the continent.
His sister, Emily Oginga, revealed during his eulogy at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Bondo that Raila had quietly started the project just days before his death.
She said the book was to reflect his unwavering belief in African unity and his lifelong pursuit of political and economic liberation for the continent.
According to Emily, Raila intended the biography to capture his experiences, insights, and lessons from decades of political struggle, while also proposing solutions to help Africa achieve self-reliance and independence from Western dominance.
She did not, however, disclose what would become of the unfinished manuscript, leaving many wondering if the late leader’s vision for Africa would still be shared with the world.Raila was no stranger to writing.
His 2013 autobiography, The Flame of Freedom, co-authored with Sarah Elderkin, offered a detailed reflection on his sacrifices for Kenya’s democracy, his years in detention, and his hopes for a fair and united nation.
The book remains one of Kenya’s most influential political memoirs.Earlier, his political journey had been chronicled in Raila Odinga: An Enigma in Kenyan Politics, a 1991 biography by Babafemi Badejo, which explored his rise, resilience, and influence in shaping Kenya’s reform movement.
As Raila’s family and supporters prepare to bid him farewell at his father’s home in Kang’o Kajaramogi, Siaya County, his unfinished Pan-African work stands as a powerful reminder of a man whose vision reached far beyond Kenya’s borders.
