The touching gesture was received in Nairobi by Philip Etale, the Director of Communication for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Etale accepted the item on behalf of the former Prime Minister at his office and described the moment as both emotional and meaningful.
Speaking after receiving the gift, Etale said he felt honoured to collect the memorabilia on behalf of his former boss.
As a fellow Arsenal supporter, he noted that the recognition from the club carried special significance.
“I was very happy to receive this on behalf of my former boss,” Etale said. “As an Arsenal fan myself, this gesture means a lot.”
Memorabilia refers to objects that are kept or collected because they are connected to important people, memorable events, or significant experiences.
These items often carry sentimental or historical value and are treasured by individuals, families, or institutions.
Examples of memorabilia can include signed sports jerseys, old photographs, concert tickets, posters from famous films, school yearbooks, or historical documents.
In many cases, such items serve as reminders of moments that hold personal or cultural importance.
In Raila Odinga’s case, the special item sent by Arsenal is a photo mount featuring the club’s English Premier League match against Liverpool FC that took place on January 8 this year.
The framed photo captures a moment from the match and was prepared as a tribute to the former Prime Minister’s well-known loyalty to the club.
For many years, Raila was open about his support for Arsenal and often spoke about the team during public appearances and informal conversations.
Football fans across Kenya were familiar with his passion for the club.
On several occasions, he would follow the team’s matches closely and celebrate their victories with fellow supporters.
Arsenal enjoys a large following in Kenya and across Africa, with many fans regularly watching the club’s matches and supporting it through fan groups and local gatherings.
Etale said the gesture from Arsenal reflects the global connection that football can create between clubs and supporters, even those far away from the stadiums where matches are played.
He added that the memorabilia will be preserved carefully as part of the former Prime Minister’s legacy and as a reminder of his love for the sport.