Raila Junior recently shared a video on social media showcasing a private room built by former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya for his late father, Raila Odinga. The room, decorated in ODM's signature orange, was kept untouched between Raila Odinga's visits, with no other guest permitted to sleep there. This gesture has reignited public admiration for the bond between the two leaders. The video was shared ahead of Raila Odinga's memorial on October 15.
The video features Oparanya walking a guest through the well-furnished bedroom, which includes a large bed with orange-patterned bedding, a sitting area with vintage-style upholstered chairs, and a wall unit decorated with framed photographs. The room also has an en-suite bathroom complete with a curved glass steam shower. The carpet was routinely removed before Raila Odinga's visits to prevent damage from mud brought in by visitors.
According to Oparanya, the room was not a courtesy extended to any other guest, and he made it clear that even if it took a year before Raila Odinga visited, no one else slept in the room. Raila Odinga would receive breakfast in the room after spending the night, and he could show up at the house even when Oparanya himself was away. This highlights the depth of trust and friendship between the two leaders.
The room was particularly useful during campaign seasons when Raila Odinga travelled to Western Kenya to mobilise voters. Oparanya maintained the space as a way to honour a relationship that had grown well beyond a political alliance. The room served as a symbol of their strong bond and mutual respect.
The clip was originally filmed for KTN's lifestyle programme *Art of Living*, hosted by Miss Nailantei Kenga, where Oparanya also showed off the lush gardens and elegant décor of his expansive home. However, it was the orange room that captured the most attention at the time, and Raila Junior's decision to resurface it ahead of his father's anniversary gave it fresh emotional weight for Kenyans online.
Raila Odinga died in India on October 15, 2025, after collapsing during a morning walk, prompting tributes from across Kenya and beyond. As the anniversary approaches, the memorial footage offers a glimpse of preparations that bring together personal grief and the political legacy of a leader remembered by supporters as “Baba”.
Raila Junior's tribute ahead of the memorial also included a first look inside his Nairobi office, featuring a framed photograph of Raila Odinga and Jaramogi Oginga, and scenes from an ODM-affiliated gathering. This serves as a reminder of the impact Raila Odinga had on his family and the nation as a whole.
Key points
- The room built by Oparanya for Raila Odinga was a symbol of their strong bond and mutual respect.
- The video was shared ahead of Raila Odinga's memorial on October 15, reigniting public admiration for the bond between the two leaders.
- The room was not a courtesy extended to any other guest, highlighting the depth of trust and friendship between Oparanya and Raila Odinga.
