Raila aide: Dedicate, gentle soul who led me to world of politics

George was more than just a part of Raila Odinga’s security. He was a dear friend. A person of integrity, dedication, and unwavering loyalty to Baba who carried the weight of responsibility with grace and always stood to defend any adversaries around Jakom.

He had a way of making people feel easy around Kenya’s most prominent politician - Jakom, not just in the line of duty, but in heart and spirit. Whether it was through a reassuring word, a steady presence, or a selfless act, George Oduor left an impact that will never fade.

I first met George in 1995 through another close friend, a fellow journalist the late Ochieng Sino after seamlessly transitioning from being the security officer of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga to becoming Raila’s most trusted aide.

George and the late Sino “wuod kathomo”  introduced me to the world of politics, opening doors I never imagined stepping through. Meeting Raila was a defining moment for me, and it wouldn’t have been possible without George.

I also recall that if it were not for Commissioner of Police Maj-Gen(rtd) Hussein Ali, George would probably not have become Raila’s Close Protection.

Raila called me and asked me to talk to Ali who was/is a good friend of mine. Baba wanted me to ask Ali to intervene after State operatives without the knowledge of police commissioner ordered the withdrawal of the firearm licence and the gun from George which would have exposed Raila.

I called Ali late in the night and he asked me to tell George to go to this office at Vigilance House the following morning to see him. George was handed over a new firearm and its licence. He was also told by Ali “enda chunga mzee (go and take care of the elder)”.

George did that till his death this ended week. 

Despite his cool and calm demeanour he was sociable and quite popular with journalists. In my close to 30 years in the media, I never heard of any journalist complain about him.

In the line of his duty, George’s role around Raila made him to brash shoulders with who is who in the world of politics. It was remarkable that such an expanded net never got to his head. He remained humble, soft spoken and approachable.

When Raila became Prime Minister, George made it a point to reach out to me almost every week. With his usual mix of humour and sincerity, he’d remind me not to stay too far from the office, warning that if I did, ‘Baba might forget me when the posts are being ‘dished out.’

I cherish the days when George would spot me at a local restaurant and call me over to join Raila for a meal in an adjacent building.

When my mother passed away in October last year; George called me, not out of obligation, but out of genuine concern, asking whether mbuyu (respectful way of referring to an older person in sheng) had reached out. It was a small gesture, but one that spoke volumes about the kind of man he was—attentive, thoughtful, and always looking out for others beyond the call of duty.

I grew up in Kariokor flats while he was raised in Kaloleni Estate,  which caused us to share that unspoken bond of the hood. That could explain why he always looked out for me, making those weekly calls even after Raila became PM. I still recall his repeating his caution of ‘not to stray too far from the office” which he’d do with a chuckle.

I had grown to understand that beneath the jokes was genuineness in the man who was more than an acquaintance. His loyalty wasn’t just about duty—it was about brotherhood, about making sure those he cared for never got left behind. Losing him is losing a piece of that bond, but his memory will forever live on. 

Agina is a former editor at The Standard, who later worked as director in the Raila Odinga 2022 presidential secretariat.