Activist and ODM Party Youth member Kasmuel McOure has shared a touching story of how he met the late Raila Odinga, painting a picture of a humble, warm, and genuine leader whose influence reached far beyond politics.

Speaking during a live online talk show on Friday, October 24, 2025, Kasmuel recounted the journey that led to his first encounter with Raila, saying the late former prime minister had been a constant figure in his family’s life for years.

His father’s ties with Raila

According to Kasmuel, his father once served as an agent for Raila.

“Raila has always been in my life, my dad was his agent in the 2007 General Election,” Kasmuel said, revealing that his father’s political involvement was what first drew him close to Raila’s world.

He recalled accompanying his father to Nyayo House during the election period, where his curiosity about Raila began to grow. “I came with my dad to Nairobi, and we went together to Nyayo House. I asked him about Raila, he had brought me to Nyayo, and he had told me about Baba, and he always talks about it at home,” he said.

Years later, Kasmuel finally had the chance to meet Raila face-to-face, an encounter he described as unforgettable. “I first met Raila on October 7, 2024, at Capitol Hill. He received me like a well; he treated me with courtesy. I was very happy,” he said, his voice filled with emotion as he recounted the moment.

According to Kasmuel, Raila’s warmth and humility stood out immediately. “He asked me to visit his place the following day at his Karen home. He called his photographer to take a picture. Raila hakuwa mtu wa kuuliza what you are wearing,” he said, describing Raila as a man who valued people for who they were, not for appearances or status.

Kasmuel’s story adds to the growing collection of personal memories and tributes being shared by Kenyans from all walks of life following Raila’s passing. His recollection paints a vivid image of Raila not just as a political icon, but as a kind, down-to-earth human being whose influence touched individuals in quiet, lasting ways.

As Kenya continues to mourn, stories like Kasmuel’s remind the nation that Raila Odinga’s legacy was built not only in rallies and speeches, but in the countless personal connections he made throughout his life.