We invite conference paper presentations that address the themes drawn from Odinga's life among them:
Thematic Framework
R
Resilience (The "Baba Spirit")
The papers can but are not limited to Exploring:
The rhetoric of resistance, Protests as political language
The transformation of political persecution into symbolic capital
Political idealism on the one hand and pragmatism on the other.
The "journey to Canan" metaphor - the politics of hope
Forgetting the past and focusing on the future
The prisoner who becomes the symbol of resistance and hope
A
Adaptation (The Strategic Pivot)
The presentations could analyse:
The political evolution of Raila Amolo Odinga CGH
Raila and culture - the rebel housekeeper
Politics of reconciliation, Man who loses and yet never quite loses
The concept of handshake focusing on models of power-sharing.
The duality of leadership between statesmanship and disruption.
The communication strategies for evolving voter demographics.
The strategic use of metaphors and folklore in political storytelling
O
Opportunity
(The Infrastructure of Voice)
An examination of
A statesman and disruptor
A leader claimed by the youth but disdained by the aged
The digital and institutional "bridges" of democracy, including Pan-Africanist discourse,
Development communication within devolved governance
The preservation of political memory through digital archives.
Conference Objectives
RAO2026 aims to bridge the gap between academia and public life by bringing together a diverse group of scholars, media practitioners, political strategists, and leaders from civil society. Through plenary sessions, presentations of academic papers, and reflections from practitioners, the conference seeks to:
Decode the Enigma: Analyze the "permanent tension" between idealism and pragmatism that characterized Odinga's leadership.
Examine Polarisation: Critically investigate the emotional and ethnic dimensions of Kenyan politics, speci?cally the phenomena of "Railamania" and "Raila Phobia".
Future-Proof Democracy: Utilise historical insights to strengthen democratic resilience and active civic participation in the digital age.
RESILIENCE, ADAPTATION, AND OPPORTUNITY
A Memorial Conference on Communication & Politics
Presentation formats:
The conference welcomes diverse formats to facilitate broad participation. Among the formats include:
Academic papers: empirical or conceptual exploration of any of the themes above Practitioner reflections: structured contributions from ringside players, professionals and observers
Roundtables: facilitated discussions on speci?c questions/themes Documentary/Film formats reflecting the life and times of the late Raila Odinga Photo and art exhibitions - curated visual presentations
Performance pieces - spoken word, music, theatre excerpts Multimedia presentations: Digital storytelling, podcast excerpts, etc Oral history sessions: recorded testimonies and ?rst-person reflections
Poster presentations: visual academic summaries reflecting the themes
Book and publication launches: works related to the theme and the life of the late Raila Odinga
Participation and Engagement
The conference comprises a wide range of tracks (detailed in the submission instructions) and welcomes contributions in both English and Kiswahili. It features diverse formats, including academic panels, documentary screenings, and oral history sessions. RAO2026 offers a critical space to reflect on Kenya's collective aspirations and the broader evolution of democratic communication in Africa.
Abstracts:
The abstracts of 300-500 words should clearly capture one of these themes and can be submitted individually, jointly or by groups. For joint submissions, the corresponding address should be clearly indicated. Submissions should be limited to no more than two per individual.
