In a deeply emotional display of political fealty, the self-styled "Ghetto President" has reaffirmed his undying loyalty to the Odinga family. Celebrating his birthday in the solemn quiet of Mama Ida Odinga’s office, Calvince Okoth, better known as Gaucho, declared the Odingas his true kin in a world without "Baba".

The imagery was striking, almost cinematic. There were no raucous crowds or tear gas canisters that usually accompany the firebrand activist. Instead, there was a cake, a song, and the matriarch of Kenya’s opposition politics, Mama Ida Odinga, standing in for the late titan, Raila Odinga. For Gaucho, this was not merely a birthday celebration; it was a public renewal of vows to a political lineage that he says "changed his life."

"Raila’s Family is My Family"

Speaking to the press after the private ceremony on Wednesday, February 4, Gaucho did not mince words about his position in the shifting sands of Kenyan politics. "Raila's family is my family," he declared, his voice thick with emotion. "This is my first birthday since the death of Raila. Mama Ida told me to buy a cake and take it to her office so she can cut it for me there."

The choice of venue—Mama Ida’s private office rather than the Karen home—was dictated by the calendar, but the symbolism remained potent. It underscored a relationship that has transcended the transactional nature of Nairobi politics to become something familial. "She is not my biological mother, nor was Raila my biological father, but my life changed through them," Gaucho reflected. "I have gained fame because of them. And I don't always abandon people who have helped me."

• A Political Orphan? Gaucho’s statement, "I don't belong to that bandwagon," serves as a veiled critique of the fair-weather allies who have drifted away from the Odinga inner circle since the political landscape shifted. His steadfastness paints him as a "loyalist soldier" in an era of mercenaries.
• The Matriarch's Role: Photos from the event show Mama Ida feeding the "birthday boy" a slice of cake, a maternal gesture that cements her status not just as a widow of a national hero, but as the continuing glue holding the movement’s zealous base together.

The Weight of Legacy

Gaucho’s rhetoric highlights a critical vacuum in the current political epoch: the absence of Raila Odinga. "First without Baba" is a phrase that resonates with millions of supporters across the country who feel politically orphaned. By clinging to Mama Ida, Gaucho is signaling to the "Jeshi" that the command structure, though grieving, remains intact.

As the political elite in Nairobi scramble to realign themselves for the 2027 cycle, this intimate birthday party offers a rare glimpse into the personal bonds that underpin the public spectacle. For Calvince Gaucho, the struggle continues, not for ideology or gain, but for the memory of the man who gave him a voice, and the woman who now holds the torch.