The news of the death of Cuban revolutionist and iconic leader Fidel Castro was probably an emotional one for CORD leader Raila Odinga.
Castro was a remarkable figure who influenced Mr Odinga to make a major decision in his life when his first son was born in 1973.
Odinga, who first came into contact with Castro during the Cold War in October 1962, decided to name his first son Fidel Odinga, after his youth-hood hero, Mr Castro.
In Odinga's autobiography 'Raila Odinga; An Enigma in Kenyan Politics', author Babafemi Badejo highlighted that: "His birth gave the opportunity for Raila to choose a hero’s name for his son as is the practice for many a Luo. Unlike his father whose heroes were Luo, Raila’s reality was larger. He chose his hero from Cuba in the person of Fidel Castro who was a hero of many young people in the world of the 1960 and 1970s."
Castro also played a critical role in shaping Odinga's political path as he (Odinga) continually kept abreast with what he was doing in Cuba as a revolutionist.
According to Badejo, when Odinga was still a student in Germany, Castro visited the German Democratic Republic where he had the opportunity of listening to him.
Following the announcement of Castro's death on Saturday, Mr Odinga eulogised him noting: "In many ways, Castro was a great friend and true friend of Africa and other parts of the world that had to fight long and bitter wars to attain freedom from colonialism."
"Castro stood very firmly on the side of Africans who were fighting for the continent’s liberation from colonialism especially in Congo (now DRC), Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa. In the case of Apartheid South Africa, Castro was one of the very few voices to speak against that system that was founded on a false sense of racial superiority with dire economic consequences for black people," Odinga added.
The ODM leader further highlighted notable contributions Castro had made in the field of medicine.
"His investment in sciences saw Cuba make medical advances to become one of the leading nations in the search for cures for diseases like blood pressure, sickle cell anemia and HIV/ Aids. Castro was therefore a source of inspiration and courage for all those who value and fought for freedom."
"I send heartfelt and deep condolences to his family and to the people of Cuba," he concluded.
Castro died at the age of 90.
