George Wajackoyah Emotionally Recalls Living With Odinga Family in London: “I Was Jaramogi’s Food Taster”

George Wajackoyah Emotionally Recalls Living With Odinga Family in London: “I Was Jaramogi’s Food Taster”

Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah has paid a deeply emotional tribute to the late Raila Amollo Odinga, revealing a personal and little-known connection with the Odinga family that dates back decades.

Speaking to journalists on Saturday morning at Raila’s Bondo home in Siaya County, Wajackoyah opened up about his time living with the Odingas in London, England, while working for Raila’s father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

“He is a source of inspiration to me, and I have followed Raila everywhere,” Wajackoyah revealed.
“I have known his father; I was his food taster in London, England.”

The Roots Party leader’s words struck a deep emotional chord as he described the rare bond of trust he shared with the Odinga family.

“If I could have eaten and died, then he as well could have gone,” he added.
“If I went to that level of eating poison on behalf of somebody, that shows you how close I was to that family.”

Rushing Back Home Upon Hearing the News

Wajackoyah disclosed that he was in the United States when he received the heartbreaking news of Raila’s death. Without hesitation, he booked an immediate flight back home to Kenya to join the nation in mourning the fallen icon.

“I have stayed with Raila in London, and as I speak, I have arrived from the US,” he shared.
“I had travelled to the US, but when I arrived there, I learned that he had died, and I had to take another flight back home.”

The law professor, known for his bold political stands, appeared visibly shaken as he narrated his memories with the Odingas, describing Raila as an honest man full of integrity and a true enigma in Kenya’s political history.

His Final Call With Raila

Wajackoyah also revealed that he had spoken to Raila just days before his death. He said the two had a lengthy conversation on the phone while he was in Kilifi County last Thursday, discussing several issues, though he refrained from disclosing details.

“Last Thursday, I spoke to Raila when I was in Kilifi, and we deliberated on so many things which I cannot say at the moment,” he said softly.
“Had I known that he was going to pass, I couldn’t have left.”

The revelation brought tears to those listening, as it underscored the close personal bond between the two men.

A Nation in Mourning

Raila Odinga, who passed away on Wednesday, October 15, after suffering a cardiac arrest, will be laid to rest on Sunday, October 19, at his ancestral home in Bondo, Siaya County.

As Kenya continues to grieve, Wajackoyah’s testimony has offered a new glimpse into the human side of Raila’s life — one filled with loyalty, trust, and enduring friendship.

“Raila lived with truth,” Wajackoyah concluded.
“He taught us that leadership is service, not self-glory. Kenya has lost more than a politician; we’ve lost a symbol of hope.”

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George Wajackoyah Emotionally Recalls Living With Odinga Family in London: “I Was Jaramogi’s Food Taster”