The late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s bodyguard Maurice Ogeta outside Parliament Building in Nairobi, heading to Nyayo Stadium for the State Funeral of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on October 17, 2025. BONFACE BOGITA | NATION
For 18 years, Maurice Ogeta stood watch, always one step behind Raila Odinga through rallies that shook the streets, convoys that stirred the nation, and moments that defined a generation.
A man of few words, his silence was his strength. His duty was to protect Baba at all costs. Even in death, Maurice remained close to his leader, walking beside him to the final resting place at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County.
Born and raised in Kondele, Kisumu County, Ogeta spent his life in the shadows, dedicated to safeguarding the ODM leader. He kept his personal life away from the public eye and earned admiration within Kenya’s security circles for his discipline and composure.
As Raila Odinga’s bodyguard, Ogeta often faced dangerous situations, especially during the tense anti-government protests.
In July 2023, during the nationwide demonstrations, he was abducted by men believed to be plainclothes police officers and remained missing for more than 72 hours. Yet when he was finally released, he quietly returned to duty, guarding Raila as if he had never left.
In his tribute to the late Prime Minister, Ogeta thanked Raila for years of mentorship and the deep bond they shared, one built on trust and akin to that of a father and son
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