In the wake of Raila Odinga’s passing on October 16, 2025, Kenyan artists mobilized to honor the veteran politician through music, transforming grief into songs. YouTube has become the epicenter, with tribute tracks amassing millions of views in days, while platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok buzz with shares, debates, and viral clips. These songs blend genres from gospel and benga to hip-hop, often incorporating Luo proverbs, archival footage, and calls for continued political legacy.

Standout YouTube Releases

• Bahati’s “Bye Bye Baba”: Released October 16, 2025, this emotional gospel-infused ballad has exploded to 1.4 million views. The track, featuring heartfelt lyrics about Raila’s unyielding fight for democracy, topped trending charts and sparked family-endorsed vigils. Bahati, a prominent gospel artist, defended it as “a prayer in melody.”
• Mr. Seed ft. Raila Odinga (Archival) – “Farewell Song”: Dropped October 17, this hip-hop collaboration uses Raila’s voice samples from past speeches over somber beats. It has garnered 74,000 views, with fans praising its raw dissection of his 1982 coup survival and 2007 post-election resilience.
• Prince Indah – “Tribute to Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga”: A benga classic revived with modern synths, released October 16. Emotional comments like “If you’re watching in 2050, know Raila was great” highlight its 200,000+ views, evoking Raila’s Nyanza roots.
• Dogo Charlie – “Lala Salama” (Cover of Diamond Platnumz): This Luo-adapted version, released October 16, reimagines the Tanzanian hit as a farewell, hitting 256,000 views. Filmed at Uhuru Park, it features youth activists reenacting Raila’s fist pumps.
• Oga Obinna (Oga@DTop) – “Baba Biro”: A three-part spoken-word epic (shock of news, family comfort, afterlife vision), released as a lyric video on October 18. Part one narrates the announcement via radio chaos; the finale envisions Raila with ancestors over afrobeat. It has over 100,000 views across Obinna TV channels, praised for therapeutic intimacy and topping podcast charts.
• Singer Myles – “Salama”: A melodic acoustic ballad with Swahili whispers, dropped October 18. Lyrics like “Rest now, warrior; your fire lights our path” draw from Raila’s anti-corruption legacy. The Studio-filmed video, with activist cameos, has 500+ views but is gaining traction via shares, becoming a vigil staple.

These anthems, streamed over 10 million times collectively, serve as catharsis amid national mourning. As Raila who once vibed with Fela Kuti rests, his rhythm endures in Kenya’s playlists, fueling calls for the “promised land” he championed.