Speaking with deep emotion, Ominde recalled that Raila called him at exactly 1:00 a.m. (“saa saba usiku”), just hours before the tragedy.
“He sounded calm and strong,” Ominde said.
“We talked briefly, and he asked about my family. I never imagined it would be the last time I heard his voice.”
For over two decades, Ominde had been by Raila’s side through Kenya’s most heated political moments.
He had driven him across the country—from chaotic rallies filled with tear gas to moments of triumph and defeat.
Their bond went far beyond a working relationship; it was one of trust and loyalty.
Ominde described Raila as a disciplined and compassionate leader who treated his staff with respect.
“He was more than a boss; he was like a father,” he said.
“Even when he was tired, he cared about how we were doing.”
The news of Raila’s death while undergoing treatment in Kerala, India, hit Ominde hard.
He said the call replayed in his mind over and over again—the tone of Raila’s voice, the warmth in his words, and the silence that followed when the call ended.
Now, as Kenya continues to mourn its fallen statesman, Ominde says he feels a deep emptiness.
“I have driven him to hundreds of places, but I never imagined I would not be there to drive him back home,” he said quietly.
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