The legacy of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is set to be preserved in a new and symbolic way after his son, Raila Odinga Junior, announced that he intends to restore the famous “Hammer” Hummer, a car that once captured the imagination of the nation during the 2007 election campaigns. Junior revealed that after refurbishment, the Hummer will be placed at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, the Odinga family mausoleum in Bondo, where his father was laid to rest, turning the vehicle into a historical exhibit.
My intention is to restore it and take it to the museum at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi
Raila JuniorA Car That Became a Political Symbol
Raila Junior was responding to an online post claiming the vehicle had long been abandoned. He clarified that restoration plans were already in motion and that the iconic car will soon serve as a preserved artefact of Kenya’s political history. The Hummer, was a Hummer H3, gifted to Raila Odinga ahead of the 2007 General Election by benefactors backing his presidential campaign, including businessman Don Bosco Gichana. The vehicle quickly became more than transport. Painted in a striking shade of red, the Hummer dominated campaign rallies. The car projected strength and authority, becoming a recognizable symbol of Raila’s momentum and political energy during that period.
From Campaign Machine to Cultural Artefact
The nickname “Hammer” (Nyundo) evolved naturally from the Hummer’s imposing presence. It came to represent not just a vehicle, but Raila’s political force and identity at a critical moment in Kenya’s democratic journey
After the intense 2007 campaign period and the events that followed, the vehicle gradually disappeared from the public eye, making only a short appearance in 2008 before fading into obscurity until now.
Silas Jakakimba Recalls the Car’s Early Days
Raila’s longtime aide, Silas Jakakimba, welcomed Junior’s decision. In a detailed reflection posted online, Jakakimba revealed little-known details about how the vehicle entered the campaign. He narrated meeting Don Bosco Gichana, who later donated the Hummer, and instantly seeing the car’s potential to transform Raila’s campaign image.
According to Jakakimba, the donor shared doubts on whether Raila would approve of the vehicle. But Jakakimba reassured him that its impact would be undeniable.
A Symbol of a Defining Campaign
The Hummer became one of the most recognisable elements of Raila Odinga’s 2007 presidential bid. Its presence often electrified crowds, becoming synonymous with political resilience and aspiration.
Jakakimba noted that the vehicle eventually joined the campaign trail officially after Bosco donated it, adding that the campaign “won the presidential vote by majority,” reflecting his long-standing assertion of Raila’s political strength in that period. He commended Raila Junior’s plan to preserve the vehicle as “timely and befitting,” saying it will ensure that future generations can connect with one of the most pivotal chapters in Kenya’s political story.
Preserving the Odinga Legacy
Moving the restored Hummer to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Museum in Bondo marks a fresh effort to protect artefacts tied to the Odinga family’s long political history—from Jaramogi, Kenya’s first Vice President, to Raila Odinga, one of the most influential political figures of the multiparty era.
The restored vehicle will provide visitors with a visual, tangible reminder of the emotionally charged 2007 campaign season and the broader journey of leadership, activism, and reform associated with the Odinga family.
