Raila Pays Tribute to Longtime Bodyguard George Oduor, Pushes for Deeper Devolution
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has paid a heartfelt tribute to his longtime bodyguard, the late George Oduor, describing him as a loyal and highly trained protector who was willing to lay down his life in the line of duty.
Speaking at the burial service held at Ramba Boys High School in Siaya County on Saturday, Raila said Oduor was among the few people he trusted with his life, having served as his personal bodyguard since the 1990s.
“If somebody is intended to take a bullet for you, it’s George. I know few people who can be as dedicated and committed to you as George,” Raila remarked emotionally.
Oduor, who passed away on April 2 at the Nairobi West Hospital after a short illness, had undergone elite security training in South Africa, Israel, and the United States. According to Raila, Oduor was exemplary in his duties, often able to sense and assess potential threats before they materialized.
“He went for training in South Africa and emerged top of his class. Later, we sent him to Israel and the US. He had a sixth sense for trouble and always ensured my safety,” he added.
Beyond the emotional farewell, Raila used the platform to make a passionate call for a more efficient and empowered devolved system of government. He argued that full devolution of key national agencies such as the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) to counties would enhance service delivery and eliminate inefficiencies caused by centralization.
“With a devolved system of government, there is no need for KURA and KeRRA to operate from Nairobi. They should be under the counties. It doesn’t make sense to have someone sitting in Nairobi when there are no roads in Mombasa and Western Kenya,” he stated.
Raila also called for the reallocation of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) to county governments. He argued that MPs should focus solely on their constitutional roles of representation, legislation, and oversight.
“MPs have no business doing roads. The role of an MP is clearly stated. How do you provide oversight when you are the one implementing? Let that money go to the counties. If the governors mess up, we will deal with them, but don’t tie their hands and then take the credit,” he urged.
The burial was attended by several national and county leaders, including President William Ruto, who also paid glowing tribute to Oduor and praised Raila for his patriotic contributions over the years.
Oduor’s death marks the end of a decades-long career in elite security, where he remained fiercely loyal to Raila Odinga throughout Kenya’s most turbulent political eras.
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Raila Pays Tribute to Longtime Bodyguard George Oduor, Pushes for Deeper Devolution