- Plans are underway to preserve Raila Odinga’s famous 2007 campaign “Hammer,” a vehicle linked to a defining political image
- Raila Odinga Junior said the car will be returned and transferred to the family museum after its photos sparked public curiosity.
- The news brought back memories of Hammer’s role in Raila’s rallies across the country, cementing it in Kenyan political folklore
- Partners hailed the decision as historic, hinting at the deep symbolism behind why the car is still relevant years later
Plans continue to preserve one of the most recognizable symbols of the former prime minister’s presidential campaign Raila Odinga of 2007.
Source: Twitter
This is after his son, Raila Odinga Junior, announced that the famous “Hammer” car will be restored and displayed in the family museum there Bondo.
The announcement has evoked memories of a pivotal political moment in Kenya’s history, when the high-profile vehicle was closely linked to Raila’s cross-country campaigns.
Popularly known as the Hammer, the vehicle was purchased in 2007 and quickly became a powerful campaign identity as Raila drove through challenging terrain while mobilizing supporters against the late former president. Mwai Kibaki.
How will Raila’s car be maintained forever?
Raila Junior revealed the plan after pictures of the car surfaced on X, showing it parked and covered, sparking curiosity and nostalgia among followers.
Responding on Monday, December 8, he made it clear that the car was not abandoned but was awaiting a new face as a historical object.
He explained that the once famous car will be displayed for all to see at the Kango Ka Jaramogi Museum.
“My intention is to restore it and take it to the museum in Kango Ka Jaramogi,” he said.
The move appears to be part of a larger effort by the extended Odinga family to commemorate Raila’s long and influential political journey.
Kang’o Ka Jaramogi has, over the years, grown into a place of national reflection, hosting the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Museum, which chronicles the legacy of the Odinga family and their role in Kenyan politics.
@e_lumumba:
“This used to be the most talked about car in Kenya. To this day I can’t see Hammer without thinking of Raila. Tinga was a movement.”
A_Light17:
“Good prospects. I can handle the job perfectly and return the HAMMER.”
@jnyagwoka85:
“It will lose its meaning if you improve it. Take it there in its current state. It’s just my opinion.”
@baraka_jb
“Would fetch a fortune if auctioned. A great collector’s item for its loyal following.”
Why did Raila use a Hummer in his 2007 campaign?
Raila Junior’s plan has been welcomed by close allies of the former prime minister, including his longtime aide Silas Jakakimba.
Jakakimba offered a rare insight into the origins of the iconic car, describing the restoration plan as timely and historically significant.
“I saw Junior Odinga’s comment on X, telling X user that this car, the famous 2007 campaign mobility ID for HE Raila Odinga, is being taken to the Jaramogi Museum in Bondo. The decision is timely and appropriate!” Jakakimba said.
According to Jakakimba, he was among the first people to see the car before it became a campaign symbol in Raila’s 2007 political system.
Source: Twitter
He remembered meeting someone who touched him and felt that the car had a unique presence and ability needed for Raila’s meetings in various places.
I told him, ‘Brother, I feel this car has the uniqueness that we would like for Jakom to appear in the campaign,'” Jakakimba noted,
He added that the assessment later aligned with Raila’s own preferences, with the car eventually being released to support the campaign, cementing his place in Kenya’s political folklore.
Jakakimba directly linked Hammer’s legacy to the broader reform agenda touted by Raila at the time.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
