Residents of Imara Daima turned out in large numbers on Sunday, briefly paralysing business activity as they welcomed Raila Odinga Jr during a church service visit that drew hundreds into the streets chanting pro-Raila slogans.
Raila Odinga Jr, commonly known as Raila Jr, is a Kenyan businessman and the son of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. He has largely maintained a low public political profile compared to his father, focusing on private sector engagements, though he has increasingly been seen at public and community events linked to opposition-aligned gatherings and social initiatives.
On Sunday, that low profile briefly gave way to a highly charged public reception as crowds gathered along major roads in Imara Daima, waving and singing as his convoy approached the church. Worshippers and residents flooded the surrounding streets, turning what had begun as a routine church visit into a political moment that drew attention across the estate.
Businesses along feeder roads were forced to temporarily close or scale down operations as movement slowed to a crawl. Traders reported that customers abandoned stalls to join the growing crowd, while boda boda riders navigated through tightly packed groups of supporters.
“He was received like a leader. People stopped everything they were doing just to see him,” said one resident who attended the church service.
Security officers were deployed to manage the swelling crowds as chants of political slogans associated with the opposition filled the air. Traffic movement in and out of the estate was heavily disrupted for several hours.
The visit underscored the continued political symbolism attached to the Odinga family name in parts of Nairobi, particularly in informal and middle-income estates where loyalty to Raila Odinga remains strong years after his long tenure in national politics.
Sunday’s scenes come at a time of heightened political activity across the country, with leaders and their allies increasingly engaging in grassroots mobilisation ahead of future electoral contests.
