RAILA
Raila Lit Fires of Freedom on the Kibo, Ruwenzori & Lenana Peaks
By Kasera Nick
Few Tanzanians know Joseph Obeto, a former Chairman of CCM Musoma and, unassuming Tanzanian businessman who counts amongst his friends, former Presidents Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Dr John Pombe Magufuli and, now deceased former Prime Minister of Kenya, the Right Honourable Raila Amolo Odinga.
No one will be hit, in Tanzania, by Raila Amolo Odinga’s death, than Joseph Obeto. The soft spoken businessman from Musoma, was a constant presence by Raila’s side whenever the former Prime Minister visited Tanzania.
He was, so to speak Raila’s point man and fixer in Tanzania. I recall an interesting incident when the then Prime Minister Raila Odinga came on a private visit to open Quality Centre owned by business man Yusuf Manji (now deceased).
Readers of Wealth Magazine will be interested to know that, here was Raila Amolo Odinga the businessman turned politician accenting to be the guest of honour and officiate at the official opening of the second mall in Tanzania after Mlimani City.
What was intriguing was the diplomatic quagmire this visit put the security and foreign affairs diplomatic honchos in, considering Raila was a serving Prime Minister of Kenya, a country with excellent relations with Tanzania , but here he was visiting in a private capacity hosted by none other than , Joseph Obeto.
While the government laid out all the protocols as required for visiting Heads of States and Government, Raila in his penchant style did everything as he deemed necessary to make the visit as private as he possibly could, finding time to visit Bagamoyo’s rich historic tourist and cultural sites and on the way back, stopped at Obeto’s Msasani home for a late lunch something the security apparatus expressed displeasure about as it was not scheduled.
Veteran Journalist, Lucas Mnubi posted on Facebook following Raila’s death, “The Spark and Flames of Democracy he lit keep burning unrelentingly on the highest crests in East Africa, let it be on our own Kibo, Lenana in Kenya and Ruwenzori in Uganda. Fare Thee Well Baba😭😭”
Indeed Baba as he was fondly known touched Tanzanians in very many ways, being the man of the moment when it came to freedom. Here was a man who could sit at Kilimanjaro Hyatt and discuss strategy with then Opposition Leader Freeman Aikaeli Mbowe and then proceed to Chato to share a meal and laughter with CCM candidate John Pombe Joseph Magufuli.
It speaks volumes of his love for competitive politics without enmity in a region and a continent where incumbents preferred strong arm tactics.
Raila’s many friends included former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, South African President and Businessman Cyril Rampahosa and Prime Minister Modi of India, where he met his maker.
Tanzania and Tanzanians milestones with Raila Odinga that come to mind include:
1960’s Raila Odinga , denied a Passport by the government of President Kenyatta I, travelled to Dar es Salaam where President Julius Kambarage Nyerere enabled Raila to be facilitated with a Tanzanian Passport that he used to travel to the then East Germany for further studies.
1990’s Raila Odinga sneaked out of Kenya through Tanzania to avoid security apparatus from arresting him during the repressive Moi regime days.
Finally in February 2025, true to his enigma moniker, Raila showed up at a Heads of States from Africa conference in Dar es Salaam where, as Presidents and Heads of States were being received by Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan . As President Suluhu received them one by one, in saunters Raila Amolo Odinga and one could see the shock on President Samia’s face.
Over the years, Raila always made a point to visit the Nyerere family whenever he was in Tanzania keeping a family tradition of ties with Julius Kambarage Nyerere that went back to his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
The relations between Jaramogi, Raila’s father and Mwalimu Nyerere were cemented by a traditional healer, herbalist of the Luo community in Tanzania, the late Chief Odemba Kagose.
Jaduong” Odemba Kagose was a renown traditional sayer whom Mwalimu and Jaramogi revered and is Grad father of the young journalist Chief Odemba known for his hard hitting interviews.
When Roads Minister John Magufuli denied permission for a Boat destined for Mwanza to be transferred from Dar es Salaam citing damages and inconveniences to road users back in 2008, it was Raila Odinga , then Roads Minister in Kenya who gave permission for a Tanzanian boat to be transferred from Dar es Salaam to Mombasa Port and which was then ferried by road from Mombasa , through Nairobi, Kisii , Migori , Sirare and finally to Mwanza ports.
This act cemented Raila’s relationship with Tanzania ,taking a decision where our own Ministers hard line was not helpful.
It is worth noting that Raila’s relationship with Dr Magufuli , somewhat changed , due to the aforementioned ability to advise opposition how to remove CCM from power but remained cordial enough for Magufuli to attend the funeral of Raila’s son, Fidel and for Raila to visit the family after Dr Magufuli’s demise.
Indeed Raila Amolo Odinga , Baba lit fires of freedom and has left them burning at Kibo , Lenana and Ruwenzori peaks. The fires Raila lit have energized youth, the Gen Z. It is important that those in power recognize this fact. May God Rest His Soul in Eternal Peace.
The writer is a researcher and content creator for Tanzania’s Finest Ambassadors. He can be reached on tzfinesta@yahoo.com