A Blessing Remembered: Ryan Ogam’s Touching Tribute to Raila Odinga

Just a month before his passing, the late Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga shared a heartfelt moment with Kenya’s rising football star Ryan Wesley Ogam Rabok, summoning the young striker and his parents to his office for a special farewell.

The meeting came at a significant time in Ryan’s blossoming career. The Harambee Stars forward had captured the hearts of Kenyan fans with a series of standout performances for the national team. At the African Nations Championship (CHAN), Ryan scored against African heavyweights Morocco and Zambia, helping Kenya secure famous victories. His fine form continued during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where he netted against Gambia and later struck a brace against Seychelles.

Those performances not only elevated his profile but also earned him a historic move to Wolfsberger AC in the Austrian Bundesliga; a remarkable leap straight from the Kenyan Premier League.

When Raila Odinga invited Ryan for the visit, it wasn’t just the young striker who received the call. He was joined by his proud parents, Mr. Daudi Obonyo Rabok and Mrs. Edith Atieno Oderah. Daudi, a former footballer who featured for Gor Mahia, Ngara Pelico, Mahakama FC, and several other clubs, also serves as the Chairman of the Starehe ODM Party branch, a party founded and led by the late Raila Odinga.

In his message following the meeting, Raila wrote:

“Farewell and best wishes to Ryan Ogam.
Today, I had the pleasure of bidding farewell to Ryan as he departs for Austria. He was accompanied by his proud parents, Mr. Daudi Rabok Obonyo and Mrs. Edith Atieno Oderah.

I took the opportunity to congratulate Ryan for his outstanding scoring skills during the recent CHAN tournament and World Cup qualifiers. His performance has been nothing short of exemplary.

As he embarks on this exciting new chapter, we wish him the very best. Go make Kenya proud!

Sports is a powerful economic industry with immense potential in our country, one we must support and explore to its fullest.”

Those words, filled with warmth and pride, now carry a much deeper meaning following Raila’s passing.

As the nation gathered for the state funeral of the former Prime Minister, Ryan Ogam; visibly shaken by the loss of a man who had blessed his journey; took a moment to pen a moving tribute to Raila.

“ENIGMA!! ❤️
You carried the nation’s pain with a smile and its hope with silence. How you viewed sports shows the love and passion you had for it. Your legacy will live forever. ✊❤️

RIP Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga 🕊️❤️”

For the young striker, the meeting with Raila was more than just a farewell; it was a symbolic passing of faith and encouragement from a leader who believed in Kenya’s youth and the power of sports to transform lives.

As Ryan begins his professional journey in Europe, he carries with him not only the dreams of a footballing nation but also the blessing of a man whose influence stretched far beyond politics.