- Veteran Nairobi rapper Octopizzo sat down with Homeboyz Radio to share personal memories of the late Raila Odinga on the first anniversary of his passing
- Octopizzo revealed he was first introduced to Raila by the late Fidel Odinga when he was still a young man working his way up in the music industry
- The rapper recalled a touching moment where Baba handed him money during one of their encounters, describing the former opposition leader as someone deeply rooted in culture
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A year after Kenya lost one of its most towering political figures, veteran rapper Octopizzo has opened up about his personal connection to the late Raila Odinga, sharing warm memories that paint a picture of a leader who was larger than life yet surprisingly approachable.
Source: Facebook
Speaking in an interview at Homeboyz Radio on October 14, 2026, ahead of Raila Odinga's first memorial, Octopizzo reflected on what Baba meant to him personally and to Kenya as a whole.
The Kibera-born hip-hop artiste revealed that his first encounter with Raila came through the late Fidel Odinga, Baba's son who also passed away in 2015.
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Octopizzo described himself as a very young man at the time, working in a role connected to diplomacy, which is how he found himself in Raila's orbit.
What struck the rapper most was how Raila treated him during that early meeting. Despite being a young, relatively unknown figure at the time, Octopizzo said Baba saw him, acknowledged him, and even handed him money on the spot.
The rapper recalled, with a sense of humour, that the cash effectively paid for his T-shirts, premium ones at that, describing it as a VVIP gesture from a man of Raila's stature.
Octopizzo on Raila's legacy
Beyond the personal anecdote, Octopizzo was emphatic about what Raila represented to Kenya and its culture.
He described Baba as a rare generational figure, the kind that does not come around more than once in a century, deeply invested in art and culture in ways that many people never fully appreciated from the outside.
The rapper suggested that Raila genuinely connected with creatives and understood the streets in a way that felt authentic rather than performative.
For someone like Octopizzo, who built his career championing Nairobi's grassroots communities, that resonance was meaningful.
Watch Octopizzo speak about his memories of Raila at Homeboyz Radio:
The interview comes as Kenyans mark the first anniversary of Raila's death, with families, politicians, and creatives alike reflecting on the legacy of a man who defined Kenyan opposition politics for decades.
What did Ida Odinga tell guests attending Raila's memorial?
Earlier, TUKO.co.ke spotlighted how Raila's widow, Ida Odinga, addressed a crowd in Siaya, issuing strict instructions and a stern warning against any disruptions ahead of the late Raila's upcoming first memorial event.
She emphasised that local youth should not allow themselves to be used as goons by politicians to cause chaos during the solemn gathering.
Highlighting that international and local guests will be attending to honour her late husband, she urged everyone to maintain peace and order.
Source: TUKO.co.ke