By Anderson Ojwang
A day that was meant to celebrate the delivery of the Premier League crown by Gor Mahia to the immediate former Patron, the late Raila Amolo Odinga’s family, in honour of the promise, only turned to evoke sad memories and pain for his wife and children.
The reappearance of Raila’s bodyguard, Maurice Ogeta, changed Mama Ida Odinga and her daughter Rosemary Odinga’s mood and prompted them to ask tough questions of Ogeta while Raila Junior watched in disbelief.
Mama Ida: “I thank God that Gor Mahia has brought you here finally. Since Baba died, you never came here.”
Rosemary: “We did not know where to find you.”
Ogeta: “I am the third patron of Gor Mahia. No election for my seat. Writing a signature is a problem here.”
Mama Ida: “Write here. Iwache ni kawuoni ibiro (write that today you have come).”
But Ogeta, in a telephone interview, wondered about the statements uttered by Mama Ida and Rosemary, saying it has not been easy for him after the demise of his boss.
“I am wondering until now. I am not a family member. It was not easy for me to go there. My employer was dead. It is too early for me, and I have not healed. Going back has a lot of memories for me in Karen,” he said.
Ogeta said visiting Karen gives him the kind of feeling that he needs to get over, as it is still too emotional and traumatising, remembering his days with Raila.
“It is Karen where I would walk and train with Jakom, pick him and drop him home after work. The memories are still fresh, and I have not overcome his death,” he said.
He said he was still processing and will visit Raila’s family at the right time when he has emotionally healed.
“I am still processing. It’s hard for many. Raila touched us differently, and it is not easy for me. But I will be going at the right time. At the moment, it is still difficult,” he said.
Employment
Ogeta was early in the year employed by Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir as the Advisor on Security Affairs following the formal establishment of new positions by the County Public Service Board in line with the law.
In a statement released on January 8th, 2026, Ogeta was widely remembered as one of Raila Odinga’s most trusted security aides, a man who walked closely with the former Prime Minister through some of Kenya’s most turbulent political moments.
For years, he was not just a bodyguard but a constant presence in Raila’s public life, earning a reputation for discipline, loyalty and quiet professionalism.
According to the governor, Ogeta’s appointment is anchored on his “many years of experience and deep institutional knowledge built at local, regional and global levels” – qualities that now place him at the centre of Mombasa’s security planning and advisory structure.
Ogeta said the appointment to the advisory role is the employment he currently has and was grateful to the governor for the appointment.
The promise
Raila had a breakfast meeting with Gor Mahia before he travelled to India for medical care and challenged them to deliver the silverware.
And when Gor Mahia won the league, they kept the promise and brought the crown to Karen, to the family, in fulfilment of the promise.
