Category: Business Daily

A sombre mood gripped the nation following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, a towering figure in Kenyan politics and a symbol of resilience for millions.

From the streets of Kisumu to the corridors of power in Nairobi, Kenyans mourned the man many called Baba, even as attention shifted to preparations for a State funeral and the long goodbye to one of the nation’s most influential leaders. He played a pivotal role in shaping Kenya’s political landscape and mentoring many of its past and present leaders, including President William Ruto.

Throughout the day, tributes poured in from across the political divide, hailing Odinga as a liberator, Pan-Africanist, and tireless advocate for democracy. From the corridors of power to the streets, Kenyans reflected on his life and legacy.

President Ruto, in a televised address on Wednesday, announced Odinga’s death and declared seven days of national mourning and a State funeral. He described him as ‘a colossus of Kenya’s modern politics, an indomitable warrior in our struggle for freedom and prosperity.’

‘In his passing, we have lost a patriot of uncommon courage – a Pan-Africanist who offered a compelling model of principled politics,’ President Ruto said.

In Nairobi, Mama Ida Odinga, the widow of the former Prime Minister, broke her silence outside their Karen home.

‘I know you’re all upset. We didn’t expect it to happen this way, but it has already happened,’ she told supporters before retreating into the house, flanked by ODM party leaders.

Hundreds of supporters, many weeping and waving twigs to ward off bad omens, gathered at the home to pay their respects.

Across Odinga’s other political strongholds in Siaya, and Homa Bay, similar scenes unfolded – processions, mourning songs, and chants of resistance blending into a shared outpouring of grief. For many, Wednesday was not just a day of mourning but the beginning of a reckoning – with grief, history, and a future suddenly uncertain without Baba.

In a statement, the Orange Democratic Movement called Odinga ‘a true giant of the nation and a darling in the hearts of Kenyans.’ ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna told reporters at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport that it was ‘too early’ to discuss who might succeed him as party leader.

Flight to India

President Ruto detailed Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to co-chair the funeral committee with Odinga’s elder brother, Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga.

A delegation headed by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi left for India on Wednesday evening to supervise repatriation of Odinga’s body.

According to senior family members and State House officials directly involved in his funeral arrangements, he left a clear directive; that he wished to be interred within seventy-two hours of his death.

The Competition tribunal has dismissed two more appeals by steel companies against the decision by the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) to penalise them for fixing prices, bringing the total to seven.

On a September 11 sitting, the Competition Tribunal dismissed appeals lodged separately by Jumbo Steel Mills Limited and Corrugated Sheets through which the companies had sought to quash CAK’s decision.

Raila Amolo Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya and the party leader of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), is dead at the age of 80.

Sources at his office on Wednesday confirmed the passing of veteran politician in India where he was recovering from treatment for undisclosed condition.

President William Ruto and Odinga’s family, led by his elder brother, Oburu Oginga, are expected for address the nation on the death. The 80-year-old leader breathed his last on Wednesday morning in the southern Indian city of Kochi, with Indian Press reporting that he suffered a cardiac arrest during a morning walk.

He was later rushed to Devamatha Hospital in Koothattukulam where he was pronounced dead, with the Indian press quoting police and hospital sources.

Odinga served as Kenya’s prime minister between 2008 and 2013. He contested for the presidency five times – 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017 and 2022.

Odinga flew to India on October 3 amid major speculations about his health status.

At the time his secretariat said, ‘Raila travelled out of the country on Friday evening – one of the many trips he has made this year, and definitely not the last. He is not indisposed.’

Dr Oginga later confirmed that Odinga had been unwell for a while, but was now recuperating in India.

‘Raila, just like any other human being, was indisposed a few days ago but at the moment he is doing fine. He went for a check-up in India and he is now recuperating,’ said Dr Oginga, who is also the Odinga family spokesperson.

Odinga’s wife, Ida, had earlier claimed that he had taken a sabbatical leave from politics.

‘As someone who lives with him, I know his health better than anyone. How could someone who doesn’t reside with him claim to know more about his condition than I do? What I’ve shared with you is the truth,’ she said.

Odinga has kept away from public engagements, including major political events by his ODM party, fueling the ill-health reports.

He was conspicuously missing in the party’s political jamborees held in Kisii, Wajir and Narok counties in the build-up to its 20th anniversary national celebrations.

He, however, made a public appearance after chairing the party’s consultative meeting on the planned celebration at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi on Friday October 3. A party official had at the time told the Nation that Odinga had travelled for a routine medical check-up.

The source explained that Odinga has always travelled for check-ups following his 2010 head surgery.

He underwent the procedure in June 2010 in order to relieve pressure that had built up outside his brain.

In 1997, he contested the presidency and came third but retained his position as Lang’ata MP.

After the election, he led a merger between his party, NDP, and President Daniel arap Moi’s Kanu party.

He served in Moi’s Cabinet as Energy Minister from June 2001 to 2002. In the subsequent Kanu elections, he was elected the party’s secretary-general as part of the power sharing deal of the merger.

In 2002, Odinga fell out with Moi after he endorsed Uhuru Kenyatta as his successor. Odinga and other Kanu members, including Kalonzo Musyoka, the late George Saitoti and the late Joseph Kamotho, opposed this step arguing that the then 38-year-old Mr Kenyatta was politically inexperienced and lacked the leadership qualities required to govern.

They joined the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which later teamed up with Mwai Kibaki’s National Alliance Party of Kenya, a coalition of several other parties, to form the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) that eventually defeated Mr Kenyatta in the 2002 poll.

He later fell out with Kibaki and contested the presidential election in 2007 that was marred by Kenya’s deadliest post-poll violence. He was named Prime Minister in the subsequent grand coalition that was formed after the peace talks mediated by late former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

He also lost the 2013 presidential election to Mr Kenyatta. After the Supreme Court nullified the poll results, he boycotted the repeat election held on October 2017.

He ran for president again in 2022 but lost to William Ruto. Dr Ruto garnered 50.49 percent of the vote against Raila Odinga’s 48.85 percent.

Guaranty Trust Bank is locked in a court dispute with one of its customers over the release of pound 9.5 million (Sh1.4 billion) allegedly wired to his account by a foreign company, even as the presiding judge gagged his lawyer, Nelson Havi, from publicly discussing the case.

Justice Fredah Mugambi’s ruling paints a picture of a high-stakes financial dispute mired in allegations of suspicious transactions, potential money laundering, and a fiery battle over lawyers’ rights to comment on ongoing cases.

British telecoms giant Vodafone Group wants the hearing of a case filed by a former Safaricom distributor stopped, arguing that it was not properly joined to the case.

Goodweek Inter-Services Limited accused Safaricom of switching it off from the dealer trading portal without notice after the firm failed to sign a new framework agreement.

A regional competition watchdog wants airlines operating within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) to compensate stranded passengers with cash payouts of up to $600 (Sh77,540) for flight cancellations and delays amid a surge in travellers’ complaints at Kenya Airways.

The Comesa Competition Commission has issued a notice, technically known as guidance letter, proposing that carriers offer stranded passengers between $250 (Sh32, 310) and $600 (Sh77, 540) for cancellations.

We don’t talk about this often, yet it happens more frequently than we care to imagine. It’s a normal day at work – chitchat, coffee-break gossip, laughter echoing across cubicles. Time to clock out, share a few hugs, and promise to see each other tomorrow to do it all over again

But then morning comes, and something is different. There’s tension in the air. Whispers fill the corridors. Some colleagues wipe away tears they didn’t expect to shed. Eyes drift towards the now-empty desk – and the questions start flooding in: Why? Could we have seen the signs? Could we have done something? Just like that, they are gone.

Losing a colleague to suicide is one of the most painful experiences any workplace can face. Beyond the initial shock and sadness, there’s often confusion, guilt, and silence. In such moments, what people need most is compassion – not procedure.

Too often, offices rush to policy and paperwork – insurance claims, handover notes, even talk of replacements. But please, just pause. This is not just a workplace; it’s a community that must find a way to grieve one of its own.

When tragedy strikes, people look to leadership for direction and reassurance. Silence only leaves room for fear, stigma, and speculation. Instead, lead with openness and empathy.

A simple message can make a world of difference: ‘We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague. We know this news is painful for all of us, and we encourage everyone to be here for one another during this difficult time.’

Avoid speculation or sharing details that have not been authorised by the family. The office should never become a place for rumours.

The goal is to acknowledge the loss, honour the person, and remind everyone that support is available.

According to the World Health Organization (2023), compassionate, truthful communication is one of the most effective responses following a suicide-related loss.

Grief looks different for everyone – that’s a fact we must accept. Some colleagues may cry openly; others may seem composed but struggle silently.

Offering safe spaces to talk – through a counsellor, debrief sessions, or even a quiet cup of tea with a trusted colleague – helps people process their emotions in healthy ways.

Encouraging staff to take time off, or to step back when needed, shows genuine care. This is especially important for those who worked closely with the departed colleague. They shared a workspace, stories, and laughter – and suddenly, all of that is gone.

According to Harvard Business Review (2022), when leaders normalise emotional support, recovery and team trust improve significantly. After all, we remain human – regardless of how professional the environment may be.

Managers often feel torn between staying strong for their teams and managing their own grief. HR must play a key role in gently guiding and supporting this group – supervisors, heads of departments, and team leads – reminding them that it’s okay not to have all the answers.

When a colleague dies by suicide, it affects everyone differently. What matters most is how we show up for each other – with empathy, patience, and presence.

Read: Understanding teen suicide and how parents can help

Healing begins when people feel seen, heard, and supported in their wholeness.

In honouring the life that was lost, we remind ourselves that none of us walks this journey alone.

There can be a temptation to try and make sense of the tragedy, but often there is no clear explanation. At times, unresolved professional differences or unspoken words may resurface, bringing guilt or tension. It’s important to steer the team away from blame and towards collective healing.

Where possible, create remembrance spaces – message boards, short reflection sessions, or quiet moments of silence. The American Psychological Association (2021) notes that shared remembrance and collective grief rituals help restore connection and meaning after loss – and I couldn’t agree more.

This may sound harsh, yet it’s the truth. The sun still rises, deadlines still loom, and clients still call. But returning to routine can feel strange, even inappropriate at first. The transition back should be gradual and compassionate.

Regularly check in with your team – not just about performance, but about how they are coping. Healing takes time, and kindness becomes the thread that holds people together during this fragile period.

Once the initial sadness fades – as it inevitably does – continued awareness becomes vital. Create opportunities to talk about mental health regularly, both individually and as a team. Learning sessions, casual check-ins, and visible reminders that it’s okay to seek help all make a difference.

As the WHO (2023) reminds us, open and caring workplaces play a crucial role in preventing future tragedies.

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) increased gold holdings by 40.8 percent to Sh238 million in the financial year ended June 2025, signalling a renewed push to diversify the country’s foreign reserves amid global economic uncertainty.

CBK’s latest annual report shows that the value of gold held by the bank rose from Sh169 million the previous year, marking one of the largest percentage increases in recent times.

The High Court has ordered the Tax Appeals Tribunal to recalculate the tax relief on a contentious hotel and apartment project by hospitality firm Hemingways Watamu Limited, handing a reprieve to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), which is fighting to block a Sh944 million claim by the investor.

High Court Judge Julius K. Ng’arng’ar directed the tribunal to reassess the investment tax deduction on the project in Kilifi County, undertaken about seven years ago.

Every job needs a curriculum vitae (CV), but not many choose revamping CVs as a career. What began as quick fixes for friends, family now fuels businesses.

The promise is simple. Make the first page count. Like Mercy Mukami, the founder of Golden Strip Consultancy. She says she began CV revamping in June 2022 as a side hustle to complement her income. After she was fired, she chose to go full throttle.