Why Raila Odinga picked hero's name for son

Naming his first born son after the Cuban revolutionist Fidel Castro in 1973 was perhaps Raila Odinga’s best way to express his political persuasion.

The story on how the CORD leader picked the name of his youth-hood hero Fidel Castro for his son, is traced by Babafemi Badejo, the author of his autobiography: ‘Raila Odinga; An Enigma in Kenyan Politics.’

Raila chose Fidel Castro as his international big man, breaking ranks with his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, who had preferred to name his children after Luo heroes.

According to Badejo, Raila’s political star began with his involvement in student politics in Germany, influenced by developments in the world, especially the role of Fidel Catro in Cuban history and the war in Vietnam.

Raila’s first encounter with Castro’s influence was during the Cold War in October 1962 as he was sailing from Egypt to Germany to start his higher education. In particular, it was during the Cuban Missile Crisis, when Castro and Che Guevara led a revolution against the Cuban government that was heavily supported by America. The crisis happened as Raila and others were enroute to Germany by ship.

Jail term

This situation marked the beginning of his knowledge of the role of Castro and admiration for him, says the Nigerian writer. Badejo says Raila continued to keenly follow Castro’s activities during his stay in Germany. Castro stood out as a strong voice against the American operation in Vietnam.

Raila also received a lot of information about Castro from other South American students, building up his liking for the revolutionist.

He read Castro’s defence, entitled History will Absolve Me, after the revolutionist was captured in his first attempt to overthrow the Cuban government.

Later after serving a jail term, Castro visited the Germany Democratic Republic when Raila was still a student.

“Raila had the opportunity of listening to Castro and was impressed,” the writer says. “He became convinced that Castro and Che Guevara were more relevant to the situation in Kenya and so became more of Castroist, rather than a Communist,” he adds. So when Raila’s son was born on November 2, 1973, only three years after his return to Kenya, he had a ready-name for him.

“His birth gave the opportunity for Raila to choose a hero’s name for his son as is the practice for many a Luo,” says Badejo. Unlike his father whose heroes were Luo, Raila’s reality was larger. He chose his hero from Cuba in the person of Fidel Castro who was a hero of many young people in the world of the 1960 and 1970s,” says the writer.

The author says the naming of Fidel was one clear sign that Raila was a committed political activist.

The loss of his son Fidel, is thus not only a blow to Raila.